[ARROW-12310] [Java] ValueVector#getObject should support covariance for complex types

• Type: Improvement
• Status: Resolved
• Priority: Major
• Resolution: Fixed
• Fix Version/s: 5.0.0
• Component/s: Java
• Labels: pull-request-available
• External issue URL: https://github.com/apache/arrow/issues/28112
• Assignee: Liya Fan
• Reporter: Liya Fan
• Created: 09/Apr/21 07:45
• Updated: 11/Jan/23 08:25
• Resolved: 30/May/21 03:01

Description

Currently, the ValueVector#getObject API supports covariance for primitive types.
For example, IntVector#getObject returns Integer while BitVector#getObject returns Boolean.

For complex types, we should also support covariance. For example, ListVector#getObject should return a List

This will help reduce unnecessary casts, and enforce type safety.

Issue Links

• links to: GitHub Pull Request #9964