Thread: Cannot infer type arguments for ArrayList<>

**** SOLVED *****

Let me start by saying I did try to Google this but my interpretation is either not correct or I'm way off base, either way I need some guidance.

At the beginning of one of my classes, I instantiate some List objects. For example ...

private List<> byName = null;

... then later, I reference this again in a method like this:

byName = new ArrayList<>(rs.getString("firstName"), rs.getString("Last Name"));

This is where I get the error. I've tried making the list of <String>, but that didn't make a difference.

A little help, anyone?

Please copy the full text of the error message and paste it here.

The program won't compile with this error so there is no stack trace

I know the difference between a compiler error and a runtime error.
My compiler generates errors. For example:

The message shows the source with a ^ under the location of the error.
Here is a sample from the javac compiler:

TestSorts.java:138: cannot find symbol
symbol  : variable var
location: class TestSorts
         var = 2;
         ^

The javac command often gives better error messages than the red lines shown by an IDE.

From how I see it,... it should work

You can't make it up. You must follow what is defined in the class and documented in the API doc.