Skip to main content
Version: 1.1.0

Eradicate

The eradicate @Nullable checker for Java annotations.

Activate with --eradicate.

Supported languages:

  • C/C++/ObjC: No
  • Java: Yes
  • C#/.Net: Yes

"I call it my billion-dollar mistake. It was the invention of the null reference in 1965."

Tony Hoare

What is Infer:Eradicate?​

Infer:Eradicate is a type checker for @Nullable annotations for Java. It is part of the Infer static analysis suite of tools. The goal is to eradicate null pointer exceptions.

@Nullable annotations denote that a parameter, field or the return value of a method can be null. When decorating a parameter, this denotes that the parameter can legitimately be null and the method will need to deal with it. When decorating a method, this denotes the method might legitimately return null.

Starting from @Nullable-annotated programs, the checker performs a flow sensitive analysis to propagate the nullability through assignments and calls, and flags errors for unprotected accesses to nullable values or inconsistent/missing annotations. It can also be used to add annotations to a previously un-annotated program.

What is the @Nullable convention?​

If you say nothing, you're saying that the value cannot be null. This is the recommended option when possible:

Program safely, annotate nothing!

When this cannot be done, add a @Nullable annotation before the type to indicate that the value can be null.

What is annotated?​

Annotations are placed at the interface of method calls and field accesses:

  • Parameters and return type of a method declaration.
  • Field declarations.

Local variable declarations are not annotated: their nullability is inferred.

How is Infer:Eradicate invoked?​

Eradicate can be invoked by adding the option --eradicate to the checkers mode as in this example:

infer run -a checkers --eradicate -- javac Test.java

The checker will report an error on the following program that accesses a nullable value without null check:

class C {
  int getLength(@Nullable String s) {
    return s.length();
  }
}

But it will not report an error on this guarded dereference:

class C {
  int getLength(@Nullable String s) {
    if (s != null) {
      return s.length();
    } else {
      return -1;
    }
  }
}

List of Issue Types​

The following issue types are reported by this checker: