When I compile a module that depends on other modules I've compiled previously I have to specify the --module-path <directory> option. This makes modules I depend on visible.

But at the same time I would also like to make some non-modular Jar files visible. However if don't make them automatic modules and just specify the --class-path some.jar right next to --module-path <directory>, then javac seems to ignore the claspath and throws "package yyy not found" and other "not found" errors.

I can understand that using --class-path and --module-path at the same (compile) time is illegal, but javac does not warn me against it in any way.

You can use class path and module path in parallel, but there are a few details to consider.

Dependency Module Path ~> Class Path

Explicit modules (JARs with a module descriptor on the module path) can not read the unnamed module (JARs on the class path) - that was done on purpose to prevent modular JARs from depending on "the chaos of the class path".

Since a module must require all of its dependencies and those can only be fulfilled by other named modules (i.e. not JARs on the class path) all dependencies of a modular JAR must be placed on the module path. Yes, even non-modular JARs, which will then get turned into automatic modules.

The interesting thing is that automatic modules can read the unnamed module, so their dependencies can go on the class path.

Dependency Class Path ~> Module Path

If you compile non-modular code or launch an application from a non-modular JAR, the module system is still in play and because non-modular code does not express any dependencies, it will not resolve modules from the module path.

So if non-modular code depends on artifacts on the module path, you need to add them manually with the --add-modules option. Not necessarily all of them, just those that you directly depend on (the module system will pull in transitive dependencies) - or you can use ALL-MODULE-PATH (check the linked post, it explains this in more detail).