Static class literal in annotation value shows false compilation error

[atrepczik]

When using the shortened Groovy syntax for class literals as values in Annotations like in the code below

package issue

@Issue(InnerClass)
class IssueMain {

    static class InnerClass {
    }

    static main(args) {
        println 'It works!'
    }
}

@interface Issue {
    Class value()
}

Groovy-Eclipse shows a compilation error in line 3 (InnerClass cannot be resolved or is not a field), despite this being valid Groovy code that compiles and runs fine. When adding a.class suffix to InnerClass, the error disappears.

I used the the following to demonstrate the issue:
Spring Tool Suite

Version: 3.8.3.RELEASE
Build Id: 201612191351
Platform: Eclipse Neon.2 (4.6.2)

Groovy-Eclipse Feature 2.9.2.xx-201701200229-e46

[eric-milles]

What version of Groovy? This case should work and is tested for.

[atrepczik]

I tried it with version 2.4.7 and 2.4.8. Both versions show said error in the IDE window.

[eric-milles]

Can you also look in the installation details dialog and say what version the plug-in org.eclipse.jdt.core is at? And if you run Help > Check for Updates and freshen Groovy-Eclipse, does the problem remain?

[atrepczik]

The plugin org.eclipse.jdt.core is at 3.12.2.xx-201701232340-e46. I updated Groovy-Eclipse through Help > Check for Updates but the problem still remains. I was also able to reproduce the problem with a fresh Eclipse Neon.2 installation downloaded from eclipse.org and installing nothing but the Groovy-Eclipse plugin.

[eric-milles]

I did not notice the inner class the first time through. That seems to be the source of the problem. You can replace @Issue(InnerClass) with @Issue(IssueMain.InnerClass) as a temporary workaround until I can get this fixed.

[eric-milles]

I did some additional testing and found that Java does not support this kind of resolution in a type annotation for fields or inner classes. I filed this bug against groovy core: https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/GROOVY-8063

I did find a way to make the inner class resolution succeed, but I am hesitant to enable it since there is a viable workaround using a qualifier or an import.