Why doesn't Java allow private members in interface?

Question

Why doesn\'t Java allow private members in interface? Is there any particular reason?

Answer 1

There would be no way to implement such an interface. An answer to a question I posed strongly suggests that it would be impossible (without radically changing the rules) to implement an interface with private methods - this leaves open the question of why protected and package private methods are not allowed.

class OuterClass
{
     void run ( MyInterface x )
     {
           x . publicMethod ( ) ;  // why not?
           x . protectedMethod ( ) ; // why not?
           x . packagePrivateMethod ( ) ; // why not?
           x . privateMethod ( ) ; // why not?
     }

     interface MyInterface
     {
           public abstract void publicMethod ( ) ; // OK

           protected abstract void protectedMethod ( ) ; // why not?

           abstract void packagePrivateMethod ( ) ; // in interface default is public, but why not package private

           private void privateMethod ( ) ; // impossible to implement
     }

     class MyImpl implements MyInterface
     {
           public void publicMethod ( ) { } // ok

           protected void protectedMethod ( ) { } // no sweat

           void packagePrivateMethod ( ) { } // no sweat

           private void privateMethod ( ) { } // not happening
     }
}

The below code should achieve the desired result. Even though all methods are public, only public method is effectively public. protected method is effectively protected. packagePrivateMethod is effectively packagePrivate. privateMethod is effectively private.

class WorkAround
{
     void run ( MyPrivateInterface x )
     {
           x . publicMethod ( ) ;  
           x . protectedMethod ( ) ; 
           x . packagePrivateMethod ( ) ; 
           x . privateMethod ( ) ; 
     }

     public interface MyPublicInterface { void publicMethod ( ) ; }

     protected interface MyProtectedInterface extends MyPublicInterface { void protectedMethod ( ) ; }

     interface MyPackagePrivateInterface extends MyProtectedInterface { void packagePrivateMethod ( ) ; }

     private interface MyPrivateInterface extends MyPackagePrivateInterface { void privateMethod ( ) ; }
}