Y combinator using lambda and method references

[Arul Dhesiaseelan]

I attempted to port this Y combinator [1] using Java 8 lambdas. The closest
I can make it work is shown here [2].

It looks like intellij code inspection suggests I can still reduce this
further by using 2 method references and 1 lambda as shown visually here
[3], but I run into problems with those conversions.

# 1 Applying the first inspection (line # 19) to a method reference fails
in a compile error:
error: cannot find symbol variable f

#2 Applying the second inspection (line # 22) to a method reference
compiles just fine, but runs into a StackOverflowError. May be this is a
problem with the code itself.

#3 Applying the third inspection (line # 31) to a lambda fails in a compile
error:

error: method Y in class YFact cannot be applied to given types;
required: Func<Func<T>>
found: (final Fun[...] - 1)
reason: cyclic inference - cannot infer target type for given lambda/method
reference expression
where T is a type-variable:
T extends Object declared in method <T>Y(Func<Func<T>>)

I am not sure if this is a case where the editor is incorrect in detecting
compilation errors. I believe the editor should reject these if the
compiler cannot infer the target type.

Please apologize if this does not belong here.

- Arul

[1] http://www.arcfn.com/2009/03/y-combinator-in-arc-and-java.html
[2] https://gist.github.com/3965968
[3] https://dl.dropbox.com/u/3274664/java/yfact-idea-inspections.png