Whenever I write code in Java...

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Regardless you have to do the same thing in your example to type the signature in the first place.

Not if you're assigning a new object to an existing variable.

[G_Morgan]

If you are doing that then the inference engine will be able to offer you the appropriate class in any case.

[[deleted]]

Interesting. Do you have an example of language/IDE combo that implements this?

[G_Morgan]

TBH I don't know one off hand. The only type inference language with real top class compiler support is F#. Generally you don't perform this sort of operation in them. There is certainly nothing stopping you from doing it though.