diff --git a/lib/setuplib.php b/lib/setuplib.php
index f938876c934..65b1f0576aa 100644
--- a/lib/setuplib.php
+++ b/lib/setuplib.php
@@ -39,13 +39,15 @@ define ('DEBUG_ALL', 6143);
 define ('DEBUG_DEVELOPER', 38911);
 
 /**
- * Simple class
+ * Simple class. It is usually used instead of stdClass because it looks
+ * more familiar to Java develpers ;-) Do not use for type checking of
+ * function parameters.
  *
  * @package   moodlecore
  * @copyright 1999 onwards Martin Dougiamas  {@link http://moodle.com}
  * @license   http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html GNU GPL v3 or later
  */
-class object {};
+class object extends stdClass {};
 
 /**
  * Base Moodle Exception class