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Java Java Objects (Retired) Delivering the MVP Wrapping up

Michael Lee
Michael Lee
2,541 Points

I'm getting an error of "java.lang.NullPointerException (Look around Forum.java line 16)"

I think it may be a problem with my User class, but I cannot figure out what the problem is.

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 String getDescription() {
    return mDescription;
  }
  // TODO: We need to expose the description


  public ForumPost(User mAuthor, String mTitle, String mDescription) {

  }
}
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 {

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

  private String mTopic;

  public String getTopic() {
      return mTopic;
  }

  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]);
    //Add the author, title and description
    ForumPost post = new ForumPost(author, "Done", "It feels great!");
    forum.addPost(post);
  }
}

2 Answers

Michael Hess
Michael Hess
24,512 Points

Hi Michael,

The constructor in forumPost.java doesn't have member variables declared in the constructor.

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

//add this constructor
public ForumPost(User author, String title, String description) {
    mAuthor = author;
    mTitle = title;
    mDescription = description;
}
  public User getAuthor() {
    return mAuthor;
  }

  public String getTitle() {
    return mTitle;
  }

  public String getDescription() {
    return mDescription;
  }


}

If you have any questions -- feel free to ask!

I had the following:

author = mAuthor; title = mTitle; description = mDescription;

These were acceptable in the step of the challenge that called them out... but when I got to the last step it failed for a similar error message as the OP.

I reversed them to have the member variable first instead of second and the last step of the challenge passed.

Is this a limitation of the challenge checker? I am not sure if there is a correct order to setting objects equal to...

Michael Hess
Michael Hess
24,512 Points

Hi Phillip Hurst,

If you think there is a bug you can contact the member support team and they will look into it. The directions for reporting a bug are outlined here: report a bug.

//The member variables are written first
public ForumPost(User author, String title, String description) {
    mAuthor = author;
    mTitle = title;
    mDescription = description;
}
// This is incorrect
public ForumPost(User author, String title, String description) {
    author = mAuthor;
    title = mTitle;
    description = mDescription;
}

Hope this helps!