[AVRO-1421] [ReflectData] Provide a way for parameterised types to be nullable

• Type: Improvement
• Status: Closed
• Priority: Minor
• Resolution: Fixed
• Affects Version/s: 1.7.0
• Fix Version/s: 1.7.6
• Component/s: java
• Assignee: Doug Cutting
• Reporter: Harsh J
• Created: 26/Dec/13 06:24
• Updated: 23/Jan/14 21:58
• Resolved: 08/Jan/14 18:04

Description

Although possible with SpecificData (schema generated classes), the ReflectData currently lacks a way to have a declaration such as

java.util.List<String> myList;

to be able to generate a nullable schema

{ "type": "array", "items": ["null", "string"] }

instead of the current

{ "type": "array", "items": "string" }

There are @Union and @Nullable annotations available, but they cannot be applied to the above parameterised Collection declaration.