Comparison method violates its general contract! Java 7 only

Question

I know this has been an issue for a while now, and checked all previously answers I could get, but still this one doesn't work.

The object 'crew' represents crewmembers with ranks and other items. The comparison should be made by comparing 'assigned_rank', an int value, and if this value is equal in both instances, then 'is_trainer', a boolean, should make the difference.

This method worked great as long as it was running with java < 7. But since Java 7 I keep getting this one:

java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: Comparison method violates its general contract!
at java.util.ComparableTimSort.mergeLo(ComparableTimSort.java:714)
at java.util.ComparableTimSort.mergeAt(ComparableTimSort.java:451)
at java.util.ComparableTimSort.mergeCollapse(ComparableTimSort.java:376)
at java.util.ComparableTimSort.sort(ComparableTimSort.java:182)
at java.util.ComparableTimSort.sort(ComparableTimSort.java:146)
at java.util.Arrays.sort(Arrays.java:472)
at java.util.Collections.sort(Collections.java:155)
at dormas_flightlog.Query.getCrew(Query.java:714)

Here is the source, where some potentially dangerous parts have allready been out-commented, but it still does not work:

public class crew implements Serializable, Comparable<crew> {

private static final long serialVersionUID = 36L;
private int flightID = 0;
private int assigned_rank = 25;
private boolean is_trainer = false;
...


@Override
public int compareTo(crew him) {

    int myRank = this.getAssigned_rank();
    int hisRank = him.assigned_rank;

    if (this == him) {
        return 0;
    }
    if (myRank > hisRank) {
        return 1;
    }
    if (myRank < hisRank) {
        return -1;
    }
    if (myRank == hisRank) {
//            if (is_trainer && !o.is_trainer) {
//                i = 1;
//            }
//            if (!is_trainer && o.is_trainer) {
//                i = -1;
//            }
//            if (is_trainer && o.is_trainer) {
//                i = 0;
//            }
//            if (!is_trainer && !o.is_trainer) {
//                i = 0;
//            }
        return 0;
    }

    return 0;
}

@Override
public int hashCode() {
    int hash = 7;
    hash = 31 * hash + this.assigned_rank;
    hash = 31 * hash + (this.is_trainer ? 1 : 0);
    return hash;
}

@Override
public boolean equals(Object o) {

    if (this == o) {
        return true;
    }


    int myRank = this.getAssigned_rank();
    int hisRank = 0;

    if (o instanceof crew) {
        crew him = (crew) o;
        hisRank = him.assigned_rank;
    } else {
        return false;
    }

    if (myRank > hisRank) {
        return false;
    }
    if (myRank < hisRank) {
        return false;
    }
    if (myRank == hisRank) {
//            if (is_trainer && !o.is_trainer) {
//                i = 1;
//            }
//            if (!is_trainer && o.is_trainer) {
//                i = -1;
//            }
//            if (is_trainer && o.is_trainer) {
//                i = 0;
//            }
//            if (!is_trainer && !o.is_trainer) {
//                i = 0;
//            }
        return true;
    }

    return false;
}

}

Implementing equals() was just a try to solve this problem. The given exception comes with or without equals(). I cannot see how the compareTo-method violates its contract. Any help is greatly appreciated....one day this code has to work with java 7 and I don't know how... Thanks

Answer 1

see this:

From http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/compatibility-417013.html#source

Area: API: Utilities Synopsis: Updated sort behavior for Arrays and Collections may throw an IllegalArgumentException

Description: The sorting algorithm used by java.util.Arrays.sort and (indirectly) by java.util.Collections.sort has been replaced. The new sort implementation may throw an IllegalArgumentException if it detects a Comparable that violates the Comparable contract. The previous implementation silently ignored such a situation. If the previous behavior is desired, you can use the new system property java.util.Arrays.useLegacyMergeSort, to restore previous mergesort behavior.

Nature of Incompatibility: behavioral

RFE: 6804124

For more detailed info, see the bug database reference here.