IncompatibleArgumentType
Passing argument to a generic method with an incompatible type.

Severity
ERROR

The problem

The called method is annotated with @CompatibleWith, which enforces that the parameter passed to the method can potentially be cast to the appropriate generic type. However, the type of the parameter passed can’t be cast to the appropriate generic type.

This is useful when a method can’t just take a parameter of the generic type to allow developers to safely operate with instances held with a wildcard type when using an instance as both a consumer and producer of values. This should not be the default, as most interfaces are either one or the other. Containers and container-like class are the most likely places to use this tool.

TIP: More explanation can be found on the page for CollectionIncompatibleType

interface Container<T> {
  void add(T thing);
  boolean contains(@CompatibleWith("T") Object thing);
  boolean containsAsT(T thing);
}

void containmentCheck(Container<? extends Number> container) {
  container.contains(2); // OK, int can be cast to Number
  container.contains(2.0); // OK, double can be cast to Number
  container.contains("a"); // Not OK, String can't be cast to number

  // Does not compile, since, for example, container might be Container<Double>, and Integer
  // can't be cast to Double.
  container.containsAsT(2);

  Container<String> stringContainer = ...;
  stringContainer.contains("a"); // OK
  // OK, since Object *could* be cast to String
  stringContainer.contains(new Object() {});
}

Suppression

Suppress false positives by adding the suppression annotation @SuppressWarnings("IncompatibleArgumentType") to the enclosing element.