Can a java subclass's private final field be initialized before the super constructor completes?

Question

I have a pair of classes looking like this;

public abstract class Class1 {

//...

    public Class1() {
        //...
        function2();
        //...
    }

    protected abstract void function2();

}

public class Class2 implements Class1 {

    private final OnSomethingListener mOnSomethingListener = new OnSomethingListener() {
        @Override
        onSomething() {
            doThatOtherThing();
        }
    }

    protected void function2() {
        //uses mOnSomethingListener
        //however mOnSomethingListener is null when this function is called from super()
        //...
    }

    public Class2() {
        super();
    }
}

I assume the listener is null because I am effectively referencing it from super() and it hasn't instantiated yet. However, I want to make it final because, well, it is. Can I get this field (the listener) to initialize in time without putting it in the superclass (which won't be using the listener, ever)?

Answer 1

Your design is an instance of the "leaked this problem" and is an anti-pattern in Java. You should never call out to a publicly overridable method from a constructor.