apache / apache/netbeans

Watched object in debug session cannot be expanded

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#9,372 3 comments 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub
debugger Java kind:bug
Dominant language
Java
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Description

### Apache NetBeans version

Apache NetBeans 29

### What happened

The watched object cannot be expanded in the table, even its type is a list.

Image

### Language / Project Type / NetBeans Component

Java application with Ant

### How to reproduce

1. Enter the following watch: `ManagementFactory.getRuntimeMXBean().getBootClassPath()`
2. Change the watched expression to: `ManagementFactory.getRuntimeMXBean().getInputArguments()`

Even the result is a list, the expansion is not possible. If you enter the second watch directly as a new watch, the expansion is available.

### Did this work correctly in an earlier version?

No / Don't know

### Operating System

Ubuntu 24.04

### JDK

Bundled JDK 25

### Apache NetBeans packaging

Community provided installer

### Anything else

_No response_

### Are you willing to submit a pull request?

No

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Reproduce the problem in an Apache NetBeans Java application by changing the watch from getBootClassPath() to getInputArguments(), then compare it with adding getInputArguments() as a new watch. Trace the debugger's watch-expression evaluation and expansion handling. Done means the changed watched expression can be expanded when its result is a list, matching the behavior of a newly added watch.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
java
Domain
devtools
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
3/5
Estimated time
1-2 days
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
55/100

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