In a IvyScriptStep, the an IvyScriptStep variables are auto initialized as soon as they are accessed. The following code will log "bad": java.util.Date date = null; if ( date!=null) { ivy.log.info("bad"); } else { ivy.log.info("good"); } It looks like the object "date" will never be a java.util.Date, it is a an IvyDate. There is also now no chance to import java.util.Date becouse because of a conflict.

In a IvyScriptStep, the following code will log "bad": java.util.Date date = null; if ( date!=null) { ivy.log.info("bad"); } else { ivy.log.info("good"); } It looks like the object "date" will never be a java.util.Date, it is a IvyDate. There is also now chance to import java.util.Date becouse of a conflict.