Javac “cannot find symbol”

First, To compile the java source file using javac you need to specify the files to compile explicitly.

Example:

javac PathToSourceFile/FileName.java

you need not provide the path if the source file is in the current working directory.

Second, whenever java encounters import abc.xyz.ClassName; it tries to resolve abc/xyz/ClassName with respect to the classpath or current working directory.

So if you are inside the vehicles folder and compile your code, it wont compile because it will look for folder vehicles inside folder vehicles (which doesn’t exist!).

but, you can do this when inside the vehicles folder

javac -cp ../ BicycleMain.java

and it should compile, because classpath will be set to the directory(../) containing vehicles. which will resolve your Bicycle class.

and then use

java -cp ../ vehicles/BicycleMain to run.