Compiling Java 7 to Java 6

Question

I\'m aware that the runtime features of Java 7 are not available with Java 6 but since no new byte code has been added the new byte code invokedynamic is

Answer 1

You are right that invokedynamic instruction is not used by Java, however there are some other related changes which can be used in Java. Invokedynamic relies on a new 'Dynamic Linkage Mechanism - Method Handles' for which there are some changes to the invokevirtual instruction as well. You can find more details in this article in the section 'A New Dynamic Linkage Mechanism: Method Handles'.

Method handles also provide a faster alternative to reflection, and hence are useful in Java. Converting code using method handles to Java 6 would not be possible as the feature relies Java 7 VM.