Added new v3 patch that a) combines the previous commits into a single patch and b) removes endIndex and uses end instead. As far as I know this + the description change address all of Rich's questions. Marking re-screened.

Updated description per Mike's comment.

I don't seem to have the ability to edit the description. Here's what I think it should say:

Cause: RT.subvec() creates an APersistentVector$SubVector. SubVector.iterator() assumes the source vector is a PersistentVector, however a primitive vector is a Vec (which is not a PersistentVector). This causes a class cast exception as observed on any attempt to iterate over the subvector.

Approach:
1. Provide a generic ranged iterator for APersistentVector, that can be used by SubVector
2. Make the iterator() method for APersistentVector$SubVector use this new iterator where possible (i.e. whenever the source vector is an APersistentVector). If not, the generic super.iterator() method is used (which is slower, but safe for any source vector that implements IPersistentVector)

Hi Rich,
1. As per comments, Andy made a small change to the original patch. v2 supersedes the original patch.
2. endIndex is part of the iterator implementation: I believe this must be mutable to provide the required Java Iterator behaviour
3. I think the approach is misworded (it was added long after the patch), I shall try to improve this.

This diff remains inscrutable. It seems to have two patches in it, one a first idea and another a modification to that? Patches should be direct enhancements to the trunk code. Also, what is endIndex for and why is it mutable? Why not just use end? And, the code doesn't agree with the plan, which says "Check the vector type and if it is an APersistentVector, use the existing logic. Otherwise, fallback to a new rangedIterator() implementation in APersistentVector that iterates using nth." while the code seems to do the opposite:

+ if (v instanceof APersistentVector) {
+ return ((APersistentVector)v).rangedIterator(start,end);
+ }
+ return super.iterator();