Merge branch '3.7-dev'

Author: spmallette

CHANGELOG.asciidoc

@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@ image::https://raw.githubusercontent.com/apache/tinkerpop/master/docs/static/ima
 * Deprecated `gremlin_python.process.__.has_key_` in favor of `gremlin_python.process.__.has_key`.
 * Added `gremlin.spark.outputRepartition` configuration to customize the partitioning of HDFS files from `OutputRDD`.
 * Allowed `mergeV()` and `mergeE()` to supply `null` in `Map` values.
+* Improved error message for when `emit()` is used without `repeat()`.
 
 [[release-3-7-3]]
 === TinkerPop 3.7.3 (October 23, 2024)

gremlin-core/src/main/java/org/apache/tinkerpop/gremlin/process/traversal/step/branch/RepeatStep.java

@@ -182,6 +182,9 @@ public int hashCode() {
         int result = super.hashCode();
         result ^= Boolean.hashCode(this.untilFirst);
         result ^= Boolean.hashCode(this.emitFirst) << 1;
+
+        // not a normal state, but prevents NPE during strategy application allowing the better
+        // user-friendly error message to show up at iteration
         if (this.repeatTraversal != null)
             result ^= this.repeatTraversal.hashCode();
         if (this.loopName != null)