How to serialize a lambda?

Question

How can I elegantly serialize a lambda?

For example, the code below throws a NotSerializableException. How can I fix it without creating a SerializableRunnable "dummy" interface?

public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {
    File file = Files.createTempFile("lambda", "ser").toFile();
    try (ObjectOutput oo = new ObjectOutputStream(new FileOutputStream(file))) {
        Runnable r = () -> System.out.println("Can I be serialized?");
        oo.writeObject(r);
    }

    try (ObjectInput oi = new ObjectInputStream(new FileInputStream(file))) {
        Runnable  r = (Runnable) oi.readObject();
        r.run();
    }
}

Answer 1

Java 8 introduces the possibility to cast an object to an intersection of types by adding multiple bounds. In the case of serialization, it is therefore possible to write:

Runnable r = (Runnable & Serializable)() -> System.out.println("Serializable!");

And the lambda automagically becomes serializable.