A Classification of Aspect Composition Problems

Aspect-oriented programming (AOP) builds on the success of object-oriented programming (OOP) for separation of crosscutting concerns. However, composition of aspects with a system´s base program and composition of aspects do not necessarily yield the desired results. In this paper, different aspect composition problems are reviewed, classified and discussed. This paper proposes a taxonomy of aspect composition problems. It aims at providing AOP practitioner and researchers with an organized overview on aspect composition problems to inspire novel ideas towards generalized solutions. The taxonomy is discussed and its application is illustrated using an example.