Access restriction: The type BASE64Encoder is not accessible due to restriction

Problem

Downloaded a Java sample from Alexa API on Amazon service, imports it into Eclipse, but unable to compile and hits following “Access restriction” errors :

Access restriction: The type BASE64Encoder is not accessible due to restriction 
on required library 
/System/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/1.6.0.jdk/Contents/Classes/classes.jar

P.S Using JDK 1.6 and Eclipse IDE 4.2

import sun.misc.BASE64Encoder; // Access restriction error 

   //...
   result = new BASE64Encoder().encode(rawHmac);
     

Solution

Using sun.* package should be avoided, read this statement.

If you insist want to use sun.misc.BASE64Encoder, in Eclipse, right click on the project, properties -> Java compiler –> Errors/Warnings –> Deprecated and restricted API –> Forbidden reference (access rules), change the default “Error” to “Warning“. Now, your code should be able to compile, but with some warning messages.

The above solution is not recommended, you should replace sun.misc.BASE64Encoder with other BASE64 class like Apache common codec.

import org.apache.commons.codec.binary.Base64;

    //...	
    result = new Base64().encodeToString(rawHmac);

References

1. Alexa Web Information Service
2. Apache common codec
3. Why Developers Should Not Write Programs That Call ‘sun’ Packages