Description Will Herrmann 2013-11-17 20:21:49 EST

Consider the following code:

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public abstract class AbstractStaticTest {

	public static abstract void publicTest();
	
	protected static abstract void protectedTest();
}
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This code cannot compile because a method cannot be both static and abstract. However, the compiler error message given by Eclipse is the following:

"The abstract method publicTest in type AbstractStaticTest can only set a visibility modifier, one of public or protected"

The compiler error for the second method is similar. This is confusing because the method is indeed public, so it appears to the user that the method ought to compile, but doesn't. Indeed, the problem is not with the visibility of the method, but rather the fact that the method is static and abstract at the same time.

I'd like to suggest that in this situation the following error message appears instead:

"The method publicTest in type AbstractStaticTest cannot be both abstract and static"

This alternative message clearly describes the reason for the compiler error and lets the user know what needs to be done in order to clear the compiler error.