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Java Java Objects (Retired) Delivering the MVP Wrapping up

Aaron Sikorski
Aaron Sikorski
2,337 Points

java.lang.NullPointerException??

Everytime i plug my code in, it tells me that i have the NullPointerException. It tells me to look in Forum around line 13. Please help!!

ForumPost.java
public class ForumPost {
  private User mAuthor;
  private String mTitle;
  private String mDescription;

  public User getAuthor() {
    return mAuthor;
  }

  public String getTitle() {
    return mTitle;
  }

  public ForumPost (User author, String title, String description) {
    User mAuthor = author;
    mTitle = title;
    mDescription = description;
  }

  public String getDescription() {
    return mDescription;
  }

  // TODO: We need to expose the description
}
User.java
public class User {
  private String mFirstName;
  private String mLastName;

  public User(String firstName, String lastName) {
    // TODO:  Set the private fields here
    mFirstName = firstName;
    mLastName = lastName;
  }
  public String getFirstName() {
    return mFirstName;
  }
  public String getLastName() {
    return mLastName;
  }
}
Forum.java
public class Forum {
  private String mTopic;

  public String getTopic() {
      return mTopic;
  }
  public Forum(String topic) {
    mTopic = topic;
  }

  public void addPost(ForumPost post) {

      System.out.printf("New post from %s %s about %s.\n",
                         post.getAuthor().getFirstName(),
                         post.getAuthor().getLastName(),
                         post.getTitle());

  }
}
Example.java
public class Example {

  public static void main(String[] args) {
    System.out.println("Starting forum example...");
    if (args.length < 2) {
       System.out.println("first and last name are required. eg:  java Example Craig Dennis");
    }
     Forum forum = new Forum("Java");
    // Take the first two elements passed args
     User author = new User(args [0],args [1]);

     ForumPost post = new ForumPost(author, "yay", "go me");
     forum.addPost(post);
  }
}

1 Answer

Hello,

In the constructor of ForumPost, you have the line:

User mAuthor = author;

which is setting the mAuthor variable with the scope of just the constructor, and so the ForumPost's mAuthor is never set. If you just remove the User from that line, you should be closer to solving the challenge.

yup, looks like you declared the mAuthor variable twice, and the declaration inside the constructor for ForumPost is limiting the scope of the variable. Just take the User declaration off of the variable inside the constructor and you should be fine. That's why we put the declarations before the constructor and the initiations inside of the constructor.

Aaron Sikorski
Aaron Sikorski
2,337 Points

Ahh yes that makes sense, and it allowed me to pass the challenge! Thank you both so much!

You're welcome. Good luck with Java.