Hi, Jack.
I disagree that NetBeans and the IDE both missed a syntax error. The Java language spec does not require that the code assign a value to a declared field or variable. Granted, such a construct has limited use but it doesn't violate the language rules!
NetBeans does mark such a declaration, at least for me, with a squiggly gray (not red) underline. Placing the mouse over that variable causes NetBeans to announce that "Field xxx is not used."
Anyway, the good news is that you've been able to get past the problem.
- Tim
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