MBeanOperationInfo array return types

We are using Jakarta Commons-Modeler in combination with MX4J.  By default 
Commons-Modeler uses it's own impl of ModelMBean, but we are using the MX4J 
impl of RequiredModelMBean.  This has highlighted a couple bugs in 
Commons-Modeler.  However, one of the bugs could feasibly be considered an 
MX4J bug.

If Modeler configures a ModelMBean to have an operation which returns an 
array of javax.management.ObjectName[] (or any object array...), it 
produces the following situation...

1) Modeler takes the String "javax.management.ObjectName[]" and simply sets 
the MBeanOperationInfo return type to that string instead of 
"[Ljavax.management.ObjectName;"

2) MX4J's RequiredModelMBean enters method "invoke" and hits the following 
line with "javax.management.ObjectName[]"...
     Class declared = 
loadClassWithContextClassLoader(operInfo.getReturnType());
...loadClassWithContextClassLoader returns null.  RequiredModelMBean then 
calls method "checkAssignability" which throws a NullPointerException 
because variable "declared" is always assumed to never be null throughout.

So, my main question is... should MX4J be altered to cope with 
non-reflective array strings (ie, "java.lang.Object[]")?

It would be inappropriate to set the Modeler descriptor xml file to have 
"[Ljavax.management.ObjectName;" as the return type.  Why?  Because the 
descriptor xml file should remain human readable and "Object[]" format is 
appropriate in the xml.  One alternative to altering MX4J is to alter 
Modeler to convert the string to the "[L..." format after reading in the 
xml.  However, it's not clear from reading the JMX spec or the JavaDocs on 
MBeanOperationInfo that the return type shouldn't display the "Object[]" 
format as a return from MBeanOperationInfo.getReturnType().

Another alternative would be to change ModelMBeanOperationInfo or 
MBeanOperationInfo to convert the type string from "Object[]" to the 
reflective "[L...".

I would be happy to tackle a solution in either direction and provide the 
necessary patch.  At the very least I believe RequiredModelMBean should be 
altered to check for null "declared" instead of blowing up with a 
NullPointerException.

You're all more familiar w/ the spec and MX4J than I...  What you 
think?  Which solution is more appropriate in your opinions?

Thanks,
Kirk

PS: In addition to the NPE, I also get the expected ClassNotFoundException...
java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: javax.management.ObjectName[]
	at java.net.URLClassLoader$1.run(URLClassLoader.java:199)
	at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
	at java.net.URLClassLoader.findClass(URLClassLoader.java:187)
	at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(ClassLoader.java:289)
	at sun.misc.Launcher$AppClassLoader.loadClass(Launcher.java:274)
	at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(ClassLoader.java:235)
	at mx4j.util.Utils.loadClass(Utils.java:99)
	at 
javax.management.modelmbean.RequiredModelMBean.loadClassWithContextClassLoader(RequiredModelMBean.java:1194)
	at 
javax.management.modelmbean.RequiredModelMBean.invoke(RequiredModelMBean.java:669)
	at 
mx4j.server.interceptor.InvokerMBeanServerInterceptor.invoke(InvokerMBeanServerInterceptor.java:218)
	at 
mx4j.server.interceptor.DefaultMBeanServerInterceptor.invoke(DefaultMBeanServerInterceptor.java:121)
	at 
mx4j.server.interceptor.SecurityMBeanServerInterceptor.invoke(SecurityMBeanServerInterceptor.java:86)
	at 
mx4j.server.interceptor.DefaultMBeanServerInterceptor.invoke(DefaultMBeanServerInterceptor.java:121)
	at 
mx4j.server.interceptor.DefaultMBeanServerInterceptor.invoke(DefaultMBeanServerInterceptor.java:121)
	at 
mx4j.server.interceptor.ContextClassLoaderMBeanServerInterceptor.invoke(ContextClassLoaderMBeanServerInterceptor.java:205)
	at mx4j.server.MX4JMBeanServer.invoke(MX4JMBeanServer.java:1079)
	at 
mx4j.tools.adaptor.http.InvokeOperationCommandProcessor.executeRequest(InvokeOperationCommandProcessor.java:164)
	at mx4j.tools.adaptor.http.HttpAdaptor$HttpClient.run(HttpAdaptor.java:980)




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