Stop using nulls for empty element content templates

ng-appserver/src/main/java/ng/appserver/elements/NGDynamicGroup.java

@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 package ng.appserver.elements;
 
-import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
 
@@ -148,10 +147,10 @@ public List<NGElement> children() {
 	private static List<NGElement> childrenFromTemplate( final NGElement contentTemplate ) {
 
 		// Null represents an empty container tag (i.e. no children).
-		// FIXME: Eliminate this check. The rendering engine should be using an empty list
-		if( contentTemplate == null ) {
-			return Collections.emptyList();
-		}
+		// FIXME: Eliminate this check. The rendering engine should be using an empty list. Disabled on 2024-11-18 // Hugi
+		//		if( contentTemplate == null ) {
+		//			return Collections.emptyList();
+		//		}
 
 		// If the contained template is another DynamicGroup, "unwrap it", i.e. just steal it's kids.
 		if( contentTemplate.getClass().equals( NGDynamicGroup.class ) ) {

ng-appserver/src/main/java/ng/appserver/templating/NGDynamicHTMLTag.java

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ public class NGDynamicHTMLTag {
 	/**
 	 * Children of this tag. This list contains a mix of (java) strings and PNodes
 	 */
-	private List<Object> _children;
+	private List<Object> _children = new ArrayList<>();
 
 	public NGDynamicHTMLTag() {
 		_parent = null;
@@ -50,30 +50,21 @@ public NGDynamicHTMLTag parent() {
 	 */
 	@Deprecated
 	public List<PNode> childrenWithStringsProcessedAndCombined() {
-
-		if( _children == null ) {
-			return null;
-		}
-
 		return combineAndWrapBareStrings( _children );
 	}
 
 	public void addChild( final Object stringOrElement ) {
 		Objects.requireNonNull( stringOrElement );
-
-		if( _children == null ) {
-			_children = new ArrayList<>();
-		}
-
 		_children.add( stringOrElement );
 	}
 
 	/**
 	 * @return true if the given tag is the root of the element tree.
 	 *
 	 * FIXME:
-	 * The implementation of this kind of sucks. The only tag in the tree without a declaration is currently the root tag
-	 * We should probably introduce another specific marker for the root tage, or give it a different type. Just anything else than a null check, that's just a consequence of an implementation detail.
+	 * The only tag in the tree without a declaration is currently assumed to be the root tag, which kind of sucks.
+	 * We should probably introduce a specific marker for the root tag or give it a different type.
+	 * Just anything else than checking for a null that's only the consequence of an implementation detail.
 	 * // Hugi 2024-10-20
 	 */
 	public boolean isRoot() {

ng-appserver/src/main/java/ng/appserver/templating/NGTemplateParserProxy.java

@@ -90,11 +90,6 @@ private static Map<String, NGAssociation> toAssociations( final Map<String, NGBi
 	 */
 	private static NGElement toTemplate( final List<PNode> nodes ) {
 
-		// FIXME: Shouldn't really ever be null. Still hesitant to replace it with an empty list though, since in my mind that represents an empty container tag. Food for thought... // Hugi 2024-11-15
-		if( nodes == null ) {
-			return null;
-		}
-
 		final List<NGElement> elements = new ArrayList<>();
 
 		for( final PNode pNode : nodes ) {