Why do we need .ref class for primtive class ?

[Remi Forax]

----- Original Message -----
> From: "Remi Forax" <forax at univ-mlv.fr>
> To: "valhalla-spec-experts" <valhalla-spec-experts at openjdk.java.net>
> Sent: Thursday, January 6, 2022 7:50:54 PM
> Subject: Why do we need .ref class for primtive class ?

> It just occurs to me that while ACC_VALUE is a bit that change the runtime
> semantics,
> something the VM should take care of, ACC_PRIMITIVE is not a bit that change the
> runtime semantics, only the javac translation strategy,
> javac emits Q-types instead of L-type + the Preload attribute.
> 
> If value classes and primitive classes are equivalent at runtime, why do we need
> to generate the .ref interface/abstract class ?
> We can use L-type instead.


Just to be clear, it's not about removing Complex.ref from the language but to translate it to LComplex;

Rémi