Towards developer-friendly annotation-based code generation

This paper discusses a generative programming technique based on attribute-oriented programming (source code annotations) and aspect-oriented programming. We propose an annotation-based generator framework that combines these two techniques to provide a rapid and easy-to-use implementation options for annotation-based generators. The framework is inspired by internals of the industrial rapid application development tool Spring Roo. We discuss how the technique used in Spring Roo can be enhanced using Convention over Configuration principle. The paper briefly presents the generator framework prototype - AnBaG. We conclude with a discussion that compares the Spring Roo generation with AnBaG.