Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

Java Java Objects (Retired) Harnessing the Power of Objects Throwing Exceptions

I don't understand what the issue is with my throw method in the challenge exercise.

./GoKart.java:17: error: cannot find symbol if (laps > mBarsCount) { ^ symbol: variable laps location: class GoKart

GoKart.java
public class GoKart {
  public static final int MAX_BARS = 8;
  private String mColor;
  private int mBarsCount;

  public GoKart(String color) {
    mColor = color;
    mBarsCount = 0;
  }

  public String getColor() {
    return mColor;
  }

  public void drive() {
    drive(1);
    if (laps > mBarsCount) {
      throw new IllegalArgumentException("Not enough battery remains");
    }   laps = mBarsCount;
  }

  public void drive(int laps) {
    // Other driving code omitted for clarity purposes
    mBarsCount -= laps;
  }

  public void charge() {
    while (!isFullyCharged()) {
      mBarsCount++;
    }
  }

  public boolean isBatteryEmpty() {
    return mBarsCount == 0;
  }

  public boolean isFullyCharged() {
    return mBarsCount == MAX_BARS;
  }

}

2 Answers

I think you are doing it in the wrong drive method since there is no laps variable in the drive your doing the throw in

I think you need to write your code in the drive method which has the int laps argument supplied. The error you are getting is that the compiler does not recognize the variable called laps, this is because it is not declared until it is used in the argument.