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Thread: null pointer exception on extending a server class

  1. #1
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    Default null pointer exception on extending a server class

    Hey everyone, I am getting a null pointer exception (I will highlight the location after the code is shown). I am trying to extend a class that is a server:

     
    import java.io.IOException;
    import java.io.*;
    import java.net.*;
    public class MultiChatServer extends MultiEchoServer{
     
    	static private ServerSocket serverSocket;
    	 static private Socket connection;
     
    	//serversocket instanciation
    	public MultiChatServer(int port) throws IOException{
    		super(port);
    		//create a list to store all the the connections
    	}
     
    	public static void main(String args[])throws IOException{
     
    		new MultiChatServer(4433);//construct a serversocket
     
    		while(true){
    			//STEP2: Do a blocking listen to the established server socket
    			//when a new connection occurs, the accept method will trigger and and another thread will be instantiated
    			connection = serverSocket.accept(); 
    			System.out.println("New client requesting to connect on connection "+ (connection.getInetAddress().getHostName()));
    			HandlerThread newThread = new HandlerThread(connection); //pass connection to be threaded
    			System.out.println("Started a new thread for new client");
    			newThread.start(); //envokes run method	
    		}
    		//serverSocket.close();
     
     
    	}
     
     
    }

    The line
    connection = serverSocket.accept();

    causes the nullPointerException.

    Just to be complete, here is the class i am extending:

    import java.io.*;
    import java.net.*;
     
    public class MultiEchoServer{	
    //Initialise variables
    		static private ServerSocket serverSocket = null;
    		static private Socket connection = null;
     
    	//constructor
    	public MultiEchoServer(int port) throws IOException{
    		try{
    			System.out.println("Server waiting for a client to connect on port 4433" );
    			serverSocket = new ServerSocket(port);
    		}catch(IOException e){
    			System.err.println("Could not listen on port: 4433");
    			System.exit(1);
    		}
    	} //end constructor
     
     
    	public static void main(String args[])throws IOException{
     
    		new MultiEchoServer(4433);
     
    		while(true){
     
    			connection = serverSocket.accept(); 
    			System.out.println("New client requesting to connect on connection "+ (connection.getInetAddress().getHostName()));
    			HandlerThread newThread = new HandlerThread(connection); 
    			System.out.println("Started a new thread for new client");
    			newThread.start(); 
    		}
    		//serverSocket.close();
     
    	}
    }

    All I am trying to do is be in a position to have the same functionality as the superclass. I want to redefine the while loop in the main in the subclass.


  2. #2
    Super Moderator Norm's Avatar
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    Default Re: null pointer exception on extending a server class

    connection = serverSocket.accept();
    If the error is on this line, it must be that serverSocket is null.
    Where is serverSocket given a non null value?

    I see more than one definition for serverSocket which one gets a value?
    Last edited by Norm; March 23rd, 2012 at 12:24 PM.
    If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to Norm For This Useful Post:

    u-will-neva-no (March 24th, 2012)

  4. #3
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    Default Re: null pointer exception on extending a server class

    When I extend MultiEchoServer, am I correct to say that the main method is not inherited? I thought that when I extend a superclass then I only get the functionality of the previous constructor.

    If this is not the case, how do I modify the main? What I want to do is add extra line of code in the main of the subclass.

  5. #4
    Super Moderator Norm's Avatar
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    Default Re: null pointer exception on extending a server class

    Which variable is getting the value and which one are you using? I see two definitions for the serverSocket. The one in the super class gets a value.
    Before using it print out its value and the super's value to see which has a value.
    Last edited by Norm; March 24th, 2012 at 08:50 AM.
    If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.

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