A "function-never-returns-null" attribute doesn't seem like the right mechanism. Instead, there should be a "never-null" attribute on pointer types. A "function-never-returns-null" is just a function whose return-type has the "never-null" attribute.
A type attribute is much more useful. For example it allows: String x = shared ? "x" : new String("x"); // The type of x [in a single-assignment-world] is non-null. [If we already have such a mechanism, I apologize.] -- --Per Bothner [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://per.bothner.com/