can I reflectively instantiate a generic type in java?

Question

Is it possible to reflectively instantiate a generic type in Java? Using the technique described here I get an error because class tokens cannot be generic. Take the example

Answer 1

You don't need that line. Nor do you need the constructor as you're just using the default one. Just instantiate the class directly:

public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {
        Class someClass = Class.forName(args[0]);
        Creator creator = (Creator) someClass.newInstance();
}

If you insist, you'll only be able to get halfway there:

public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {
    Class someClass = Class.forName(args[0]);
    Class creatorClass = someClass.asSubclass(Creator.class);
    Constructor creatorCtor = creatorClass.getConstructor((Class[]) null);
    Creator creator = (Creator) creatorCtor.newInstance((Object[]) null);
}