Modifying code within a protected method

Question

I was wondering if it was possible to override a protected method that is in a 3rd Party jar file. I am guessing I can invoke the method using reflection, but how would I completely overwrite it?

The method is

protected void a(World world, int i, int j, int k, ItemStack itemstack) {
    if (!world.isStatic && world.getGameRules().getBoolean("doTileDrops")) {
        float f = 0.7F;
        double d0 = (double) (world.random.nextFloat() * f) + (double) (1.0F - f) * 0.5D;
        double d1 = (double) (world.random.nextFloat() * f) + (double) (1.0F - f) * 0.5D;
        double d2 = (double) (world.random.nextFloat() * f) + (double) (1.0F - f) * 0.5D;
        EntityItem entityitem = new EntityItem(world, (double) i + d0, (double) j + d1, (double) k + d2, itemstack);
        entityitem.pickupDelay = 10;
        world.addEntity(entityitem);
    }
}

Answer 1

Yes, the point of protected methods is that they can be overridden by subclass implementations in different packages/modules (the default access mode allows to do that only from the same package).

It is then up to the subclass to decide if it wants to call back into the super method or not.

So you could have

class MyVersion extends TheClass {

     @Override
     protected void a(World world, int i, int j, int k, ItemStack itemstack) {
         // do something else
     }

}

Of course, the more interesting question is how to make the rest of the application use your new version instead of the original. If it is your code that drives instantiation of this object, then that is no problem. Otherwise, you may have to find some configuration setting or change some more code.