[JSR308] Release 0.8.1 of JSR 308 specification, javac, Checker Framework, and checkers

[Mahmood Ali]

We have released version 0.8.1 of the JSR 308 specification and
implementation and of the Checker Framework.  You can always review
the latest version of the specification at: http://groups.csail.mit.edu/pag/jsr308/specification/java-annotation-design.html
  ; and download the latest version of these tools at:http://groups.csail.mit.edu/pag/jsr308/
  .

The JSR 308 implementation is a backward-compatible extension to
javac. The Checker Framework makes it easy to write a tool that finds
or prevents errors; the tool is expressed as a type-checker for a
pluggable type system.  The Checker Framework distribution includes
sample checkers.

This release includes fixes for many bugs related to generic type  
inference,
and some API re-factoring.

This release includes a Get Started tutorial that explains how you can  
start using the checkers quickly.  The tutorial includes a very simple  
two-step installation process.

The changlogs of the specification and the implementations appear below.

     - Mahmood

---- Changelog for Checker Framework ----
Version 0.8.1, 1 Nov 2008

Framework
   Added support for array initializers
   Fixed many bugs related to generics and generic type inference

Documentations
   Added 'Getting Started' guide


---- Changelog for JSR 308 specification  ----

Changes to non-normative section:

   * Improve the discussion of repeated annotations and annotation  
inheritance, both adding new technical material and new motivating  
examples. (Thanks to Niko Matsakis, Jonathan Aldrich, and others for  
the raw material.)
   * In “inheritance among annotations” section, separate discussion  
of two approaches: subclassing among annotations vs. extending/ 
implementing interfaces.
   * Mention two low-priority proposals for further annotation  
changes: nullable annotation fields and optional/default fields in  
annotations.
   * Make “Annotations on statements” a subsection of “Locations for  
annotations”.

---- Changelog for JSR 308 implementation ----
Version 0.8.1, 1 Nov 2008

Base build
   Updated to OpenJDK langtools build b38