NetBeans support for proposed small language extensions

[John Rose]

The mlvm/langtools patch repository has support for some small Java  
extensions, which I am in the process of proposing to the Java  
language people.

I have wired the updated javac into the ant scripts that NetBeans  
uses, and can build invokedynamic call sites directly from Java code  
in the NetBeans editor.  This will be a preferred way to create call  
sites for metaobject protocol infrastructure and any parts of dynamic  
language runtimes written in Java.  (Dynamic languages will probably  
not compile via Java, but use ASM to generate invokedynamic calls  
directly.)  You'll see the tweaks for that on my next hotspot push.

Meanwhile, NetBeans still (very reasonably) reports the extensions as  
syntax or type errors.  I just filed a NetBeans RFE to get this  
fixed.  Now all we need is a NetBeans expert!  (Are *you* that  
expert? :-)

http://www.netbeans.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=157264

Best wishes,
-- John