Scoring Java lambdas with imports [duplicate]

Question

In this answer, I used a java.util.List as a parameter to an anonymous function (lambda) answer. So, my question is,

Should this import be counted to the byte total?

I know, it feels like the obvious answer should be YES - if you don't import java.util.*, my example usage won't compile.

However, it's not that simple. I could declare the type (which we don't score) as BiConsumer<java.util.List<String>, String> - use the full name instead of importing - and then everything would be fine and dandy. To blur the line further, say an external class has a method that takes a BiConsumer<List<String>, <String>. Then, in my test class I could use this lambda without ever referencing the java.util package at all!

To clarify, On scoring imported functions refers to scoring a submission of a default method, where this is still scoring a lambda. The issue here is does the import statement need to be counted in the score, as it is possible to compile the lambda without the import but only under very specific conditions.

Answer 1

Yes, the import should be scored.

The argument against is that the code could be compiled without it in certain conditions of surrounding code. However, the lambda, though anonymous, is still a function and not a snippet, and this is what makes it an acceptable answer.

To stand alone, the types of the arguments must be accessible, and as such the import should be scored.

More generally, types used as Java lambda parameters must always be imported (and scored as such) or the parameters must be typed to make the lambda a valid stand-alone solution.