--- a/jdk/src/java.base/share/classes/java/lang/invoke/BoundMethodHandle.java	Thu Dec 03 22:30:21 2015 -0800
+++ b/jdk/src/java.base/share/classes/java/lang/invoke/BoundMethodHandle.java	Thu Dec 03 11:17:31 2015 +0100
@@ -25,25 +25,25 @@
 
 package java.lang.invoke;
 
-import static jdk.internal.org.objectweb.asm.Opcodes.*;
-import static java.lang.invoke.LambdaForm.*;
-import static java.lang.invoke.LambdaForm.BasicType.*;
-import static java.lang.invoke.MethodHandleStatics.*;
+import jdk.internal.vm.annotation.Stable;
+import jdk.internal.org.objectweb.asm.ClassWriter;
+import jdk.internal.org.objectweb.asm.FieldVisitor;
+import jdk.internal.org.objectweb.asm.MethodVisitor;
+import sun.invoke.util.ValueConversions;
+import sun.invoke.util.Wrapper;
 
 import java.lang.invoke.LambdaForm.NamedFunction;
 import java.lang.invoke.MethodHandles.Lookup;
 import java.lang.reflect.Field;
 import java.util.Arrays;
-import java.util.function.Function;
+import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentHashMap;
 import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentMap;
-import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentHashMap;
+import java.util.function.Function;
 
-import jdk.internal.org.objectweb.asm.FieldVisitor;
-import sun.invoke.util.ValueConversions;
-import sun.invoke.util.Wrapper;
-
-import jdk.internal.org.objectweb.asm.ClassWriter;
-import jdk.internal.org.objectweb.asm.MethodVisitor;
+import static java.lang.invoke.LambdaForm.BasicType;
+import static java.lang.invoke.LambdaForm.BasicType.*;
+import static java.lang.invoke.MethodHandleStatics.*;
+import static jdk.internal.org.objectweb.asm.Opcodes.*;
 
 /**
  * The flavor of method handle which emulates an invoke instruction
@@ -459,7 +459,7 @@
         static final String BMH_SIG  = "L"+BMH+";";
         static final String SPECIES_DATA     = "java/lang/invoke/BoundMethodHandle$SpeciesData";
         static final String SPECIES_DATA_SIG = "L"+SPECIES_DATA+";";
-        static final String STABLE_SIG       = "Ljava/lang/invoke/Stable;";
+        static final String STABLE_SIG       = "Ljdk/internal/vm/annotation/Stable;";
 
         static final String SPECIES_PREFIX_NAME = "Species_";
         static final String SPECIES_PREFIX_PATH = BMH + "$" + SPECIES_PREFIX_NAME;

--- a/jdk/src/java.base/share/classes/java/lang/invoke/DirectMethodHandle.java	Thu Dec 03 22:30:21 2015 -0800
+++ b/jdk/src/java.base/share/classes/java/lang/invoke/DirectMethodHandle.java	Thu Dec 03 11:17:31 2015 +0100
@@ -26,19 +26,23 @@
 package java.lang.invoke;
 
 import jdk.internal.misc.Unsafe;
+import jdk.internal.vm.annotation.ForceInline;
+import sun.invoke.util.ValueConversions;
+import sun.invoke.util.VerifyAccess;
+import sun.invoke.util.VerifyType;
+import sun.invoke.util.Wrapper;
+
+import java.lang.ref.WeakReference;
+import java.lang.reflect.Field;
 import java.lang.reflect.Method;
 import java.util.Arrays;
-import sun.invoke.util.VerifyAccess;
+import java.util.Objects;
+
+import static java.lang.invoke.LambdaForm.*;
 import static java.lang.invoke.MethodHandleNatives.Constants.*;
-import static java.lang.invoke.LambdaForm.*;
+import static java.lang.invoke.MethodHandleStatics.UNSAFE;
+import static java.lang.invoke.MethodHandleStatics.newInternalError;
 import static java.lang.invoke.MethodTypeForm.*;
-import static java.lang.invoke.MethodHandleStatics.*;
-import java.lang.ref.WeakReference;
-import java.lang.reflect.Field;
-import java.util.Objects;
-import sun.invoke.util.ValueConversions;
-import sun.invoke.util.VerifyType;
-import sun.invoke.util.Wrapper;
 
 /**
  * The flavor of method handle which implements a constant reference

--- a/jdk/src/java.base/share/classes/java/lang/invoke/DontInline.java	Thu Dec 03 22:30:21 2015 -0800
+++ /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
@@ -1,37 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright (c) 2012, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
- * DO NOT ALTER OR REMOVE COPYRIGHT NOTICES OR THIS FILE HEADER.
- *
- * This code is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
- * under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 only, as
- * published by the Free Software Foundation.  Oracle designates this
- * particular file as subject to the "Classpath" exception as provided
- * by Oracle in the LICENSE file that accompanied this code.
- *
- * This code is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
- * ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
- * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License
- * version 2 for more details (a copy is included in the LICENSE file that
- * accompanied this code).
- *
- * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License version
- * 2 along with this work; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation,
- * Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
- *
- * Please contact Oracle, 500 Oracle Parkway, Redwood Shores, CA 94065 USA
- * or visit www.oracle.com if you need additional information or have any
- * questions.
- */
-
-package java.lang.invoke;
-
-import java.lang.annotation.*;
-
-/**
- * Internal marker for some methods in the JSR 292 implementation.
- */
-/*non-public*/
-@Target({ElementType.METHOD, ElementType.CONSTRUCTOR})
-@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
-@interface DontInline {
-}

--- a/jdk/src/java.base/share/classes/java/lang/invoke/ForceInline.java	Thu Dec 03 22:30:21 2015 -0800
+++ /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
@@ -1,37 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright (c) 2012, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
- * DO NOT ALTER OR REMOVE COPYRIGHT NOTICES OR THIS FILE HEADER.
- *
- * This code is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
- * under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 only, as
- * published by the Free Software Foundation.  Oracle designates this
- * particular file as subject to the "Classpath" exception as provided
- * by Oracle in the LICENSE file that accompanied this code.
- *
- * This code is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
- * ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
- * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License
- * version 2 for more details (a copy is included in the LICENSE file that
- * accompanied this code).
- *
- * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License version
- * 2 along with this work; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation,
- * Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
- *
- * Please contact Oracle, 500 Oracle Parkway, Redwood Shores, CA 94065 USA
- * or visit www.oracle.com if you need additional information or have any
- * questions.
- */
-
-package java.lang.invoke;
-
-import java.lang.annotation.*;
-
-/**
- * Internal marker for some methods in the JSR 292 implementation.
- */
-/*non-public*/
-@Target({ElementType.METHOD, ElementType.CONSTRUCTOR})
-@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
-@interface ForceInline {
-}

--- a/jdk/src/java.base/share/classes/java/lang/invoke/InvokerBytecodeGenerator.java	Thu Dec 03 22:30:21 2015 -0800
+++ b/jdk/src/java.base/share/classes/java/lang/invoke/InvokerBytecodeGenerator.java	Thu Dec 03 11:17:31 2015 +0100
@@ -608,9 +608,9 @@
 
         if (lambdaForm.forceInline) {
             // Force inlining of this invoker method.
-            mv.visitAnnotation("Ljava/lang/invoke/ForceInline;", true);
+            mv.visitAnnotation("Ljdk/internal/vm/annotation/ForceInline;", true);
         } else {
-            mv.visitAnnotation("Ljava/lang/invoke/DontInline;", true);
+            mv.visitAnnotation("Ljdk/internal/vm/annotation/DontInline;", true);
         }
 
         if (lambdaForm.customized != null) {
@@ -1292,7 +1292,7 @@
         mv.visitAnnotation("Ljava/lang/invoke/LambdaForm$Hidden;", true);
 
         // Don't inline the interpreter entry.
-        mv.visitAnnotation("Ljava/lang/invoke/DontInline;", true);
+        mv.visitAnnotation("Ljdk/internal/vm/annotation/DontInline;", true);
 
         // create parameter array
         emitIconstInsn(invokerType.parameterCount());
@@ -1351,7 +1351,7 @@
         mv.visitAnnotation("Ljava/lang/invoke/LambdaForm$Hidden;", true);
 
         // Force inlining of this invoker method.
-        mv.visitAnnotation("Ljava/lang/invoke/ForceInline;", true);
+        mv.visitAnnotation("Ljdk/internal/vm/annotation/ForceInline;", true);
 
         // Load receiver
         emitAloadInsn(0);

--- a/jdk/src/java.base/share/classes/java/lang/invoke/Invokers.java	Thu Dec 03 22:30:21 2015 -0800
+++ b/jdk/src/java.base/share/classes/java/lang/invoke/Invokers.java	Thu Dec 03 11:17:31 2015 +0100
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@
 
 package java.lang.invoke;
 
+import jdk.internal.vm.annotation.DontInline;
+import jdk.internal.vm.annotation.ForceInline;
+import jdk.internal.vm.annotation.Stable;
+
 import java.lang.reflect.Array;
 import java.util.Arrays;
 

--- a/jdk/src/java.base/share/classes/java/lang/invoke/LambdaForm.java	Thu Dec 03 22:30:21 2015 -0800
+++ b/jdk/src/java.base/share/classes/java/lang/invoke/LambdaForm.java	Thu Dec 03 11:17:31 2015 +0100
@@ -25,18 +25,24 @@
 
 package java.lang.invoke;
 
-import java.lang.annotation.*;
+import jdk.internal.vm.annotation.DontInline;
+import jdk.internal.vm.annotation.Stable;
+import sun.invoke.util.Wrapper;
+
+import java.lang.annotation.ElementType;
+import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
+import java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy;
+import java.lang.annotation.Target;
+import java.lang.reflect.Field;
 import java.lang.reflect.Method;
-import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.HashMap;
-
-import sun.invoke.util.Wrapper;
-import java.lang.reflect.Field;
+import java.util.List;
 
 import static java.lang.invoke.LambdaForm.BasicType.*;
-import static java.lang.invoke.MethodHandleStatics.*;
-import static java.lang.invoke.MethodHandleNatives.Constants.*;
+import static java.lang.invoke.MethodHandleNatives.Constants.REF_invokeStatic;
+import static java.lang.invoke.MethodHandleStatics.debugEnabled;
+import static java.lang.invoke.MethodHandleStatics.newInternalError;
 
 /**
  * The symbolic, non-executable form of a method handle's invocation semantics.

--- a/jdk/src/java.base/share/classes/java/lang/invoke/MethodHandleImpl.java	Thu Dec 03 22:30:21 2015 -0800
+++ b/jdk/src/java.base/share/classes/java/lang/invoke/MethodHandleImpl.java	Thu Dec 03 11:17:31 2015 +0100
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@
 import java.util.Iterator;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.function.Function;
-import java.util.stream.Collectors;
 
+import jdk.internal.vm.annotation.Stable;
 import sun.invoke.empty.Empty;
 import sun.invoke.util.ValueConversions;
 import sun.invoke.util.VerifyType;
@@ -1483,7 +1483,7 @@
     }
 
     private static final int LEFT_ARGS = FILL_ARRAYS_COUNT - 1;
-    private static final @Stable MethodHandle[] FILL_ARRAY_TO_RIGHT = new MethodHandle[MAX_ARITY+1];
+    private static final @Stable MethodHandle[] FILL_ARRAY_TO_RIGHT = new MethodHandle[MAX_ARITY + 1];
     /** fill_array_to_right(N).invoke(a, argL..arg[N-1])
      *  fills a[L]..a[N-1] with corresponding arguments,
      *  and then returns a.  The value L is a global constant (LEFT_ARGS).

--- a/jdk/src/java.base/share/classes/java/lang/invoke/MethodType.java	Thu Dec 03 22:30:21 2015 -0800
+++ b/jdk/src/java.base/share/classes/java/lang/invoke/MethodType.java	Thu Dec 03 11:17:31 2015 +0100
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 
 package java.lang.invoke;
 
+import jdk.internal.vm.annotation.Stable;
 import sun.invoke.util.Wrapper;
 import java.lang.ref.WeakReference;
 import java.lang.ref.Reference;

--- a/jdk/src/java.base/share/classes/java/lang/invoke/MethodTypeForm.java	Thu Dec 03 22:30:21 2015 -0800
+++ b/jdk/src/java.base/share/classes/java/lang/invoke/MethodTypeForm.java	Thu Dec 03 11:17:31 2015 +0100
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 
 package java.lang.invoke;
 
+import jdk.internal.vm.annotation.Stable;
 import sun.invoke.util.Wrapper;
 import java.lang.ref.SoftReference;
 import static java.lang.invoke.MethodHandleStatics.*;

--- a/jdk/src/java.base/share/classes/java/lang/invoke/Stable.java	Thu Dec 03 22:30:21 2015 -0800
+++ /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
@@ -1,73 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright (c) 2012, 2013, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
- * DO NOT ALTER OR REMOVE COPYRIGHT NOTICES OR THIS FILE HEADER.
- *
- * This code is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
- * under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 only, as
- * published by the Free Software Foundation.  Oracle designates this
- * particular file as subject to the "Classpath" exception as provided
- * by Oracle in the LICENSE file that accompanied this code.
- *
- * This code is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
- * ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
- * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License
- * version 2 for more details (a copy is included in the LICENSE file that
- * accompanied this code).
- *
- * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License version
- * 2 along with this work; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation,
- * Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
- *
- * Please contact Oracle, 500 Oracle Parkway, Redwood Shores, CA 94065 USA
- * or visit www.oracle.com if you need additional information or have any
- * questions.
- */
-
-package java.lang.invoke;
-
-import java.lang.annotation.*;
-
-/**
- * A field may be annotated as stable if all of its component variables
- * changes value at most once.
- * A field's value counts as its component value.
- * If the field is typed as an array, then all the non-null components
- * of the array, of depth up to the rank of the field's array type,
- * also count as component values.
- * By extension, any variable (either array or field) which has annotated
- * as stable is called a stable variable, and its non-null or non-zero
- * value is called a stable value.
- * <p>
- * Since all fields begin with a default value of null for references
- * (resp., zero for primitives), it follows that this annotation indicates
- * that the first non-null (resp., non-zero) value stored in the field
- * will never be changed.
- * <p>
- * If the field is not of an array type, there are no array elements,
- * then the value indicated as stable is simply the value of the field.
- * If the dynamic type of the field value is an array but the static type
- * is not, the components of the array are <em>not</em> regarded as stable.
- * <p>
- * If the field is an array type, then both the field value and
- * all the components of the field value (if the field value is non-null)
- * are indicated to be stable.
- * If the field type is an array type with rank {@code N > 1},
- * then each component of the field value (if the field value is non-null),
- * is regarded as a stable array of rank {@code N-1}.
- * <p>
- * Fields which are declared {@code final} may also be annotated as stable.
- * Since final fields already behave as stable values, such an annotation
- * indicates no additional information, unless the type of the field is
- * an array type.
- * <p>
- * It is (currently) undefined what happens if a field annotated as stable
- * is given a third value.  In practice, if the JVM relies on this annotation
- * to promote a field reference to a constant, it may be that the Java memory
- * model would appear to be broken, if such a constant (the second value of the field)
- * is used as the value of the field even after the field value has changed.
- */
-/* package-private */
-@Target(ElementType.FIELD)
-@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
-@interface Stable {
-}

--- /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
+++ b/jdk/src/java.base/share/classes/jdk/internal/vm/annotation/DontInline.java	Thu Dec 03 11:17:31 2015 +0100
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2012, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
+ * DO NOT ALTER OR REMOVE COPYRIGHT NOTICES OR THIS FILE HEADER.
+ *
+ * This code is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+ * under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 only, as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation.  Oracle designates this
+ * particular file as subject to the "Classpath" exception as provided
+ * by Oracle in the LICENSE file that accompanied this code.
+ *
+ * This code is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
+ * ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
+ * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License
+ * version 2 for more details (a copy is included in the LICENSE file that
+ * accompanied this code).
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License version
+ * 2 along with this work; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation,
+ * Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
+ *
+ * Please contact Oracle, 500 Oracle Parkway, Redwood Shores, CA 94065 USA
+ * or visit www.oracle.com if you need additional information or have any
+ * questions.
+ */
+
+package jdk.internal.vm.annotation;
+
+import java.lang.annotation.*;
+
+/**
+ * A method or constructor may be annotated as "don't inline" if the inlining of
+ * this method should not be performed by the HotSpot VM.
+ * <p>
+ * This annotation must be used sparingly.  It is useful when the only
+ * reasonable alternative is to bind the name of a specific method or
+ * constructor into the HotSpot VM for special handling by the inlining policy.
+ * This annotation must not be relied on as an alternative to avoid tuning the
+ * VM's inlining policy.  In a few cases, it may act as a temporary workaround
+ * until the profiling and inlining performed by the HotSpot VM is sufficiently
+ * improved.
+ *
+ * @implNote
+ * This annotation only takes effect for methods or constructors of classes
+ * loaded by the boot loader.  Annotations on methods or constructors of classes
+ * loaded outside of the boot loader are ignored.
+ */
+@Target({ElementType.METHOD, ElementType.CONSTRUCTOR})
+@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
+public @interface DontInline {
+}

--- /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
+++ b/jdk/src/java.base/share/classes/jdk/internal/vm/annotation/ForceInline.java	Thu Dec 03 11:17:31 2015 +0100
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2012, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
+ * DO NOT ALTER OR REMOVE COPYRIGHT NOTICES OR THIS FILE HEADER.
+ *
+ * This code is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+ * under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 only, as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation.  Oracle designates this
+ * particular file as subject to the "Classpath" exception as provided
+ * by Oracle in the LICENSE file that accompanied this code.
+ *
+ * This code is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
+ * ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
+ * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License
+ * version 2 for more details (a copy is included in the LICENSE file that
+ * accompanied this code).
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License version
+ * 2 along with this work; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation,
+ * Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
+ *
+ * Please contact Oracle, 500 Oracle Parkway, Redwood Shores, CA 94065 USA
+ * or visit www.oracle.com if you need additional information or have any
+ * questions.
+ */
+
+package jdk.internal.vm.annotation;
+
+import java.lang.annotation.*;
+
+/**
+ * A method or constructor may be annotated as "force inline" if the standard
+ * inlining metrics are to be ignored when the HotSpot VM inlines the method
+ * or constructor.
+ * <p>
+ * This annotation must be used sparingly.  It is useful when the only
+ * reasonable alternative is to bind the name of a specific method or
+ * constructor into the HotSpot VM for special handling by the inlining policy.
+ * This annotation must not be relied on as an alternative to avoid tuning the
+ * VM's inlining policy.  In a few cases, it may act as a temporary workaround
+ * until the profiling and inlining performed by the HotSpot VM is sufficiently
+ * improved.
+ *
+ * @implNote
+ * This annotation only takes effect for methods or constructors of classes
+ * loaded by the boot loader.  Annotations on methods or constructors of classes
+ * loaded outside of the boot loader are ignored.
+ */
+@Target({ElementType.METHOD, ElementType.CONSTRUCTOR})
+@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
+public @interface ForceInline {
+}

--- /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
+++ b/jdk/src/java.base/share/classes/jdk/internal/vm/annotation/Stable.java	Thu Dec 03 11:17:31 2015 +0100
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2012, 2013, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
+ * DO NOT ALTER OR REMOVE COPYRIGHT NOTICES OR THIS FILE HEADER.
+ *
+ * This code is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+ * under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 only, as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation.  Oracle designates this
+ * particular file as subject to the "Classpath" exception as provided
+ * by Oracle in the LICENSE file that accompanied this code.
+ *
+ * This code is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
+ * ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
+ * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License
+ * version 2 for more details (a copy is included in the LICENSE file that
+ * accompanied this code).
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License version
+ * 2 along with this work; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation,
+ * Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
+ *
+ * Please contact Oracle, 500 Oracle Parkway, Redwood Shores, CA 94065 USA
+ * or visit www.oracle.com if you need additional information or have any
+ * questions.
+ */
+
+package jdk.internal.vm.annotation;
+
+import java.lang.annotation.*;
+
+/**
+ * A field may be annotated as stable if all of its component variables
+ * changes value at most once.
+ * A field's value counts as its component value.
+ * If the field is typed as an array, then all the non-null components
+ * of the array, of depth up to the rank of the field's array type,
+ * also count as component values.
+ * By extension, any variable (either array or field) which has annotated
+ * as stable is called a stable variable, and its non-null or non-zero
+ * value is called a stable value.
+ * <p>
+ * Since all fields begin with a default value of null for references
+ * (resp., zero for primitives), it follows that this annotation indicates
+ * that the first non-null (resp., non-zero) value stored in the field
+ * will never be changed.
+ * <p>
+ * If the field is not of an array type, there are no array elements,
+ * then the value indicated as stable is simply the value of the field.
+ * If the dynamic type of the field value is an array but the static type
+ * is not, the components of the array are <em>not</em> regarded as stable.
+ * <p>
+ * If the field is an array type, then both the field value and
+ * all the components of the field value (if the field value is non-null)
+ * are indicated to be stable.
+ * If the field type is an array type with rank {@code N > 1},
+ * then each component of the field value (if the field value is non-null),
+ * is regarded as a stable array of rank {@code N-1}.
+ * <p>
+ * Fields which are declared {@code final} may also be annotated as stable.
+ * Since final fields already behave as stable values, such an annotation
+ * conveys no additional information regarding change of the field's value, but
+ * still conveys information regarding change of additional components values if
+ * the type of the field is an array type (as described above).
+ * <p>
+ * The HotSpot VM relies on this annotation to promote a non-null (resp.,
+ * non-zero) component value to a constant, thereby enabling superior
+ * optimizations of code depending on such a value (such as constant folding).
+ * More specifically, the HotSpot VM will process non-null stable fields (final
+ * or otherwise) in a similar manner to static final fields with respect to
+ * promoting the field's value to a constant.  Thus, placing aside the
+ * differences for null/non-null values and arrays, a final stable field is
+ * treated as if it is really final from both the Java language and the HotSpot
+ * VM.
+ * <p>
+ * It is (currently) undefined what happens if a field annotated as stable
+ * is given a third value (by explicitly updating a stable field, a component of
+ * a stable array, or a final stable field via reflection or other means).
+ * Since the HotSpot VM promotes a non-null component value to constant, it may
+ * be that the Java memory model would appear to be broken, if such a constant
+ * (the second value of the field) is used as the value of the field even after
+ * the field value has changed (to a third value).
+ *
+ * @implNote
+ * This annotation only takes effect for fields of classes loaded by the boot
+ * loader.  Annoations on fields of classes loaded outside of the boot loader
+ * are ignored.
+ */
+@Target(ElementType.FIELD)
+@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
+public @interface Stable {
+}