Re: finalize(), System.runFinalization(), System.gc();

[Brian Leathem <bleathem@xxxxxxxxx>]

Walden H. Leverich wrote:
> > or even remove references early by setting them to null.  
> >     
>
> Assuming the JVM GC is roughly as smart as the CLR's GC, setting the
> reference to null is an unnecessary step. An object is eligible for
> collection when it can no longer be referenced... it doesn't actually
> need to be out of scope yet.

In the trivial cases this is true, but I think one has to be careful 
when dealing with collections and arrays.  The problem of arrays holding 
object references when they are no longer accessible via business rules 
is well documented.  I would guess you could have a similar problem with 
collections and maps where you think you no longer have references to 
your object, but indeed do.  Setting references to null in some of these 
non-trivial cases is vital.

Brian