Now that Java SE 6 has been officially released, it is a good time to think about the future of Java. In Java SE 7 Wish List, Peter Ahé's wishes for these enhancements in Java's next version, SE 7:

• Closures
• Type Literals
• Super Packages
• Improved Type Inference
• Shorthand Syntax for Declaring Local Variables
• Shorthand Syntax for Declaring Properties
• Type Aliasing
• Array Syntax for Collections
• More Factory Methods for Collection Classes
• Self Types
• Improved Compiler Diagnostics

What do you think of the items on Peter's list, and what is on your wish list for the next version of Java?

class MyStringList implements List<String> {
    protected delegate List<String> _list = new ArrayList<String>();
    boolean add(String val) {
        // do something special
        return _list.add(val);
    }
}

class MyProperty<T> implements Property<T> {
   public T get() { return _val; }
   public void set(T obj) {
   // check obj, send event notifications, etc...
   _val = obj;
 }
   private T _val;
}
 
class Foo {
   private property MyProperty<T> _name = new MyProperty();
}