Accessing constructor of an anonymous class

Question

Lets say I have a concrete class Class1 and I am creating an anonymous class out of it.

Object a = new Class1(){
        void someNewMethod(){
        }
      };

Now is there any way I could overload the constructor of this anonymous class. Like shown below

Object a = new Class1(){
        void someNewMethod(){
        }
        public XXXXXXXX(int a){
          super();
          System.out.println(a);
        }
      };

With something at xxxxxxxx to name the constructor?

Answer 1

From the Java Language Specification, section 15.9.5.1:

An anonymous class cannot have an explicitly declared constructor.

Sorry :(

EDIT: As an alternative, you can create some final local variables, and/or include an instance initializer in the anonymous class. For example:

public class Test {
    public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {
        final int fakeConstructorArg = 10;

        Object a = new Object() {
            {
                System.out.println("arg = " + fakeConstructorArg);
            }
        };
    }
}

It's grotty, but it might just help you. Alternatively, use a proper nested class :)