Ann: A domain-specific language for the effective design and validation of Java annotations. (April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Córdoba-Sánchez, Irene; de Lara, Juan
• Is Part Of: Computer languages, systems & structures. Volume 45(2016)
• Page Start: 164
• Page End: 190
• Publication Date: 2016-04
• Subjects: Model driven engineering -- Domain-specific languages -- Code generation -- Java annotations -- Model finders; Programming languages (Electronic computers) -- Periodicals; Computer networks -- Periodicals; Computer architecture -- Periodicals; Computer systems -- Periodicals; Langage de programmation; Réseau d'ordinateurs; Architecture d'ordinateur; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 005.13
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cl.2016.02.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1477-8424

Abstract

Abstract: This paper describes a new modelling language for the effective design and validation of Java annotations. Since their inclusion in the 5th edition of Java, annotations have grown from a useful tool for the addition of meta-data to play a central role in many popular software projects. Usually they are not conceived in isolation, but in groups, with dependency and integrity constraints between them. However, the native support provided by Java for expressing this design is very limited. To overcome its deficiencies and make explicit the rich conceptual model which lies behind a set of annotations, we propose a domain-specific modelling language. The proposal has been implemented as an Eclipse plug-in, including an editor and an integrated code generator that synthesises annotation processors. The environment also integrates a model finder, able to detect unsatisfiable constraints between different annotations, and to provide examples of correct annotation usages for validation. The language has been tested using a real set of annotations from the Java Persistence API (JPA). Within this subset we have found enough rich semantics expressible with Ann and omitted nowadays by the Java language, which shows the benefits of Ann in a relevant field of application. Abstract : Highlights: Ann is a domain-specific language for the design of dependent Java annotation types. It allows to design explicitly the constraints in the conceptual model behind them. The consistency validation of the constraints is performed using model finding. Automatic code generation enables validation of the annotations at compile time. Ann was tested in a real use-case of JPA annotations, obtaining successful results.