Get class object for primitive datatype name stored in a string

Question

Hi,
I have an array of Strings:
String[] somePrimitives = {"int", "char", "void" };
I want to achieve the equivalent of :
for(int k = 0; k < somePrimitives.length; k++) {
Class myClass = Class.forName(somePrimitives[k]); //Wont work
We all know, we cannot do Class.forName("int") etc since "int" is not a path to
an actual class - whereas Class.forName("java.lang.Integer") will work.
Can anyone tell me how to achieve the above ?
Of course, I don't want to have numerous hardcoded checking conditions like
if(somePrimitives[k].equals("int")) return (Integer.TYPE);
thanks.

Answer 1

1. Why couldn't java provide me a simple provision to list all available primitives and their corresponding
class mapping ? Why should I do the mapping...shouldn't the language have taken care of
its provisions ?Yes, and native compilation on the fly, dynamic modification of classes, a sensible types system, usable Number tree, quasiquotation, access to the AST of the source, getting a method based on argument types rather than parameter types, etc. etc.
2. Or even better they could have made the method
Class.getPrimitiveClass(String primitiveDatatTypeName)
as a public method. This would have solved the whole
problem with a one line piece of code. Why did they
have to make it non-public ???If you want it easy, go elsewhere.
But seriously, the reflection capabilities were tagged onto Java as it grew, and were not designed to reflect the state of the art, but as a 'just enough to get by' solution. Most of the time people don't need it, so it's not there, any you have to roll your own.
Pete