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author | wisberg <wisberg> | 2003-11-13 09:04:12 +0000 |
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committer | wisberg <wisberg> | 2003-11-13 09:04:12 +0000 |
commit | 52cf27188372c0b375aaaad367d2cb311e0df05b (patch) | |
tree | 5e80248f29d9201143b2f22a57dd99929a79a6b5 /docs/faq/faq.xml | |
parent | 17993d4c413e1b291ffeece0128f4b23bce5c86a (diff) | |
download | aspectj-52cf27188372c0b375aaaad367d2cb311e0df05b.tar.gz aspectj-52cf27188372c0b375aaaad367d2cb311e0df05b.zip |
updates listed in q:faqchanges.
Many more to harvest from the list, and to move from here and the list to the programming guide.
Diffstat (limited to 'docs/faq/faq.xml')
-rw-r--r-- | docs/faq/faq.xml | 327 |
1 files changed, 295 insertions, 32 deletions
diff --git a/docs/faq/faq.xml b/docs/faq/faq.xml index 8634929d9..d3aa72f07 100644 --- a/docs/faq/faq.xml +++ b/docs/faq/faq.xml @@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ 2003 Contributors. All rights reserved. </para> <!-- todo Update me! --> - <para>Last updated November 5, 2003. + <para>Last updated November 13, 2003. </para> <para> This FAQ covers AspectJ versions 1.0 and 1.1. @@ -1333,7 +1333,9 @@ aspect PublicErrorLogging { <para>Can I use AspectJ with Generic Java?</para> </question> <answer> - <para>At this time, unfortunately not. The two compilers are just not + <para>We plan to support Generics when Java 1.5 is available. + </para> + <para>But at this time, unfortunately not. The two compilers are just not at all compatible. In an ideal world, there would be a wonderful Open Source extensible compiler framework for Java that both GJ and AspectJ would be built on top of, and they would seamlessly @@ -1355,6 +1357,24 @@ aspect PublicErrorLogging { </answer> </qandaentry> <qandaentry> + <question id="q:aspectjandj2me" + xreflabel="Q:Can I use AspectJ with J2ME?"> + <para>Can I use AspectJ with J2ME?</para> + </question> + <answer> + <para>We have not tested with J2ME, but we understand that users + are deploying AspectJ-compiled programs successfully in J2ME. + It should work if your program is otherwise J2ME-compatible + and if you avoid using <literal>cflow</literal>-based pointcuts + or <literal>thisJoinPoint</literal>. + To ensure that the program is limited to J2ME API's, + you should supply the runtime on the bootclasspath. + (Fair warning: there was an email about this not working, + but there has been no bug report.) + </para> + </answer> + </qandaentry> + <qandaentry> <question id="q:aopinjava" xreflabel="Q: Are you working to put AOP into Java?"> <para> Are you working to put AOP into Java? @@ -2652,6 +2672,12 @@ aspect MyMarker extends MarkerExample { <answer> <para>Some examples are distributed in the documentation release, and you can find other code in the discussions on the users list. + In the AspectJ CVS tree, there are prospective code samples in the + <literal>docs</literal> module <literal>sandbox</literal> + and <literal>teaching</literal> directories. + (Until they are published, these samples should be used only by + programmers who can determine for themselves whether they + are correct.) </para> </answer> </qandaentry> @@ -3159,9 +3185,11 @@ vmparam -Xmx384m </para> </question> <answer> - <para>When advice is not running, it is probably a problem in the - pointcut. - Sometimes users specify pointcuts that do not mean what they intend - + <para> + When advice is not running, + there is probably a problem in the pointcut. + Sometimes users specify pointcuts that + do not mean what they intend - most often when they misspell a type name. Run the compiler in <literal>-Xlint</literal> mode, which will flag some likely mistakes, like the type name. @@ -3172,22 +3200,102 @@ vmparam -Xmx384m see if your join points are executing at all by using TraceJoinPoints.java from <xref linkend="q:seeingjoinpoints"/>. </para> - <para>When advice is running more than it should, it may be that your - pointcut picks out more join points than you intend. + <para>When advice is running more than it should, either + (1) your advice is in an abstract aspect and the pointcut picks + out the same join point for more than one concrete instantiation + of the aspect, or + (2) your pointcut picks out more join points than you intend. + </para> + <para> + In the case of advice in abstract aspects, the advice will run once + for each concrete instance of the aspect. + If the pointcut for that advice picks out the same join point for two + concrete aspects, then the correct behavior is for the advice to run + the advice twice at that join point. + </para> + <para> + To see if your pointcut picks out the join points you intend, you + can use IDE support, logging, or declare-warnings. If you are using IDE support, you should be able to trace back from the pointcut or advice to the join points which can be statically - determined to be affected. To identify advised dynamic join points, + determined to be affected. + Without IDE support, you can write + declare-warning statements to identify code affected by staticly- + determinable pointcuts. + To identify advised dynamic join points, you can try using <literal>TraceJoinPoints.java</literal> as above, or update the advice to print the source location of the join point. - This will show if the advice applies to code that you did - not consider. - </para> + Doing any of these should show if the advice applies to code that + you did not expect. + </para> <para>If you've done this and convinced yourself it's not working, it may be a bug. See <xref linkend="q:bugreports"/>. </para> </answer> </qandaentry> <qandaentry> + <question id="q:adviceOnOveriddenMethods" + xreflabel="Q:My advice runs for each overridden method!"> + <para> + My advice runs for each overridden method! + </para> + </question> + <answer> + <para>Most likely you are advising the method execution join + point and specifying the defining signature. + Since all overriding methods share this signature, + the advice runs for each method executed. + (This happens, e.g., when one method invokes the same method + in the superclass using <literal>super.{method}(..)</literal>). + This is the correct behavior. + </para> + <para>To avoid this, use the <literal>call(..)</literal> pointcut + designator, or use <literal>!cflow(..)</literal> to pick + out only the initial method-execution. + </para> + </answer> + </qandaentry> + <qandaentry> + <question id="q:tejpsp" + xreflabel="Q:I don't understand when thisEnclosingJoinPointStaticPart is available."> + <para> + I don't understand when thisEnclosingJoinPointStaticPart is available. + </para> + </question> + <answer> + <para> + <literal>thisEnclosingJoinPointStaticPart</literal> is a special + variable available in the context of advice to refer to the + join point, if any, lexically enclosing the current join point: + <table> + <title>thisEnclosingJoinPointStaticPart</title> + <tgroup cols="2"> + <tbody> + <row> + <entry>One of these...</entry> + <entry>will be tEJSP for each of these:</entry> + </row> + <row> + <entry> + constructor-execution, method-execution, + advice execution, initialization, + pre-initialization, static initialization + </entry> + <entry> + constructor-call, method-call, handler, + field-set, field-get + </entry> + </row> + </tbody> + </tgroup> + </table> + Expressions in the body of handlers have the same + <literal>thisEnclosingJoinPointStaticPart</literal> + as the handler itself. + </para> + </answer> + </qandaentry> + <qandaentry> <question id="q:packagedeclares" xreflabel="Q:I declared a member on a class with package access, but other classes in the package cannot see it."> <para> @@ -3205,6 +3313,29 @@ vmparam -Xmx384m </answer> </qandaentry> <qandaentry> + <question id="q:interfaceDeclarations" + xreflabel="Q:I declared a member on a interface, but javac does not see it."> + <para> + This is true. The workaround is to compile all the top-level implementating + classes of the interface using <literal>ajc</literal>. + From an email by Jim Hugunin on the requirements for AspectJ 1.1 to + implement members declared by an aspect on an interface: + </para> + <para> + If you introduce non-static fields or non-abstract methods on an interface + from an aspect, then all of the top-most implementors of that interface must + be woven by that same aspect. + (A class C is a top-most implementor of an interface I if C implements I + and the superclass of C does not implement I.) + </para> + </question> + <answer> + <para> + + </para> + </answer> + </qandaentry> + <qandaentry> <question id="q:cantfindjavac" xreflabel="Q:ajc 1.0 complains that it can't find javac. What's wrong?"> <para> @@ -3335,6 +3466,41 @@ vmparam -Xmx384m </answer> </qandaentry> <qandaentry> + <question id="q:newjoinpoints" + xreflabel="Q:Why can't AspectJ pick out local variables (or array elements or ...)?"> + <para>Why can't AspectJ pick out local variables (or array elements or ...)? + </para> + </question> + <answer> + <para>Users have sometimes wanted AspectJ to pick out + many more join points, including + <itemizedlist> + <listitem><para>method-local field access</para></listitem> + <listitem><para>array-element access</para></listitem> + <listitem><para>loop iteration</para></listitem> + <listitem><para>method parameter evaluation</para></listitem> + </itemizedlist> + Most of these have turned out not to make sense, + for a variety of reasons: + <itemizedlist> + <listitem><para>it is not a commonly-understood unit for Java programmers</para></listitem> + <listitem><para>there are very few use-cases for advice on the join point</para></listitem> + <listitem><para>a seemingly-insignificant change to the underlying program + causes a change in the join point</para></listitem> + <listitem><para>pointcuts can't really distinguish the join point in question</para></listitem> + <listitem><para>the join point would differ too much for different + implementations of AspectJ, or would only be implementable + in one way + </para></listitem> + </itemizedlist> + We prefer to be very conservative in the join point model for the language, + so a new join point would have to be useful, sensible, and implementable. + The most promising of the new join points proposed are for exception + throws clauses and for synchronized blocks. + </para> + </answer> + </qandaentry> + <qandaentry> <question id="q:currentbugs" xreflabel="Q:What are the bugs now most affecting users?"> <para>What are the bugs now most affecting users?</para> @@ -3512,16 +3678,81 @@ vmparam -Xmx384m </question> <answer> <para> - There are currently no documents describing this process in any detail. - Currently, the best way to understand this is to compile programs and - then inspect the generated source or bytecode. Many people have found - this very effective for understanding the weaving model. You also have - access to the source code for a different perspective. (See - <xref linkend="Developers"/>). - We hope to write - a couple of papers on the bytecode weaving model used in AspectJ-1.1 if - we can ever find the free time. - </para> + There are currently no documents describing this process in detail. + You can compile programs and inspect the generated source or bytecode, + or view the source code (see <xref linkend="Developers"/>). + We hope to write papers on the bytecode weaving model used in + AspectJ-1.1 if we can find the time. + Erik Hilsdale and Jim Hugunin did draft a paper for AOSD 2004, + now available on Jim's web site: + <ulink url="http://hugunin.net/papers.html"> + http://hugunin.net/papers.html</ulink> + Jim summarized advice weaving in the AspectJ 1.1 implementation in the + <ulink url="http://dev.eclipse.org/mhonarc/lists/aspectj-dev/msg00519.html"> + following mailing-list reply</ulink>: + </para> + <para> + Each piece of advice in an aspect is associated with a pointcut. + This pointcut is stored in an attribute on the methods + corresponding to each piece of advice. + Before weaving, all of these pieces of advice are gathered + into one large list. + </para> + <para> + Each .class file is woven independently. + A .class file is woven by the following steps: + <itemizedlist> + <listitem><para> + Collect all of the joinpoint shadows in the .class file. + For every dynamic joinpoint in the AspectJ language model, + there is a corresponding static shadow of that joinpoint + in the bytecode. + For example, every method call joinpoint has an INVOKE + bytecode as its static shadow. Some joinpoints + (such as initialization) have much more + complicated static shadows. + </para></listitem> + <listitem><para> + Each piece of advice is matched to each static shadow. + There are three results possible from this match. + <itemizedlist> + <listitem><para> + Never matches, + in which case nothing is done to the shadow + </para></listitem> + <listitem><para> + Always matches, + in which case the advice is woven into this joinpoint shadow + </para></listitem> + <listitem><para> + Sometimes matches, + in which case the advice is woven into the shadow + along with the minimal dynamic tests to determine + if any particular joinpoint in the actual running + program matches the advice. + The simplest example of sometimes matches is + when the pointcut uses if(test()). + </para></listitem> + </itemizedlist> + </para></listitem> + <listitem><para> + If any advice matched any static shadows in the .class file, + then the transformed .class file is written out, + otherwise it is left unchanged. + </para></listitem> + </itemizedlist> + See <literal>BcelClassWeaver</literal> and + <literal>BcelShadow</literal> in the + <literal>org.aspectj.weaver.bcel</literal> package + for the two primary classes involved in this process. + + </para> + <para> + Note: This explanation ignores the implementations of inter-type + declarations completely. + It also ignores performance optimizations such as fast-match + that speed up the weaving process. + </para> </answer> </qandaentry> <qandaentry> @@ -3576,11 +3807,9 @@ vmparam -Xmx384m <qandadiv id="Developers" xreflabel="AspectJ Project Development"> <title>AspectJ Project Development</title> <qandaentry> - <question id="q:contributions" - xreflabel="Q:I'm interested in the code implementing AspectJ. - How can I get involved with developing the AspectJ project?"> + <question id="q:howitworks" + xreflabel="Q:I'm interested in the code implementing AspectJ."> <para>I'm interested in the code implementing AspectJ. - How can I get involved with developing the AspectJ project? </para> </question> <answer> @@ -3589,8 +3818,9 @@ vmparam -Xmx384m and tools for writing AspectJ programs. </para> <para>For people who want to know how the AspectJ technology works, - the source code is the best resource. - There are no white papers or high-level design documents for AspectJ. + the source code is the best resource, until we write some + proper white papers + (see <xref linkend="q:implementation"/>). To get and compile the Java source code for the AspectJ distribution, see <xref linkend="q:buildingsource"/>. @@ -3600,6 +3830,15 @@ vmparam -Xmx384m might be an initial version of a new architecture (e.g., bytecode weaving). </para> + </answer> + </qandaentry> + <qandaentry> + <question id="q:contributions" + xreflabel="Q:How can I get involved with developing the AspectJ project?"> + <para>How can I get involved with developing the AspectJ project? + </para> + </question> + <answer> <para>For those who want to contribute to the project, here's a general list of ways to do so, in no particular order: <itemizedlist> @@ -3617,6 +3856,15 @@ vmparam -Xmx384m </para> </listitem> <listitem> + <para>Write bugs. Good bugs, especially with test cases, + are always appreciated. We especially like proposals for + new <literal>XLint</literal> messages, since they are + sometimes easy to implement and help users learn + AspectJ, and for other implementable features + grounded in a compelling use-case. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> <para>Write test cases for compiler bugs without test cases. Compiler bugs without test cases are much less likely to be fixed; until they are rendered in code, they might be user mistakes, @@ -3983,13 +4231,17 @@ vmparam -Xmx384m </question> <answer> <para> - It is generally most effective to do a google search of the form, + It is very effective to do a google search of the form, <ulink url="http://www.google.com/search?q=site:eclipse.org+cflowbelow"> http://www.google.com/search?q=site:eclipse.org+cflowbelow - </ulink> - but this may not get results inside the mail archives. - Be sure to check the old archives available for download from - the AspectJ home page. <ulink url="http://eclipse.org/aspectj"> + </ulink>, + and you can use the eclipse.org search at + <ulink url="http://www.eclipse.org/search/search.cgi"> + http://www.eclipse.org/search/search.cgi + </ulink>. + You can also check the old archives available for download from + the AspectJ home page + <ulink url="http://eclipse.org/aspectj"> http://eclipse.org/aspectj </ulink>. </para> @@ -4190,6 +4442,17 @@ vmparam -Xmx384m <itemizedlist> <listitem><para><xref linkend="q:noaspectbound"/></para></listitem> <listitem><para><xref linkend="q:duplicateclass"/></para></listitem> + <listitem><para><xref linkend="q:advicenotrunning"/></para></listitem> + <listitem><para><xref linkend="q:exampleprograms"/></para></listitem> + <listitem><para><xref linkend="q:newjoinpoints"/></para></listitem> + <listitem><para><xref linkend="q:whitepapers"/></para></listitem> + <listitem><para><xref linkend="q:implementation"/></para></listitem> + <listitem><para><xref linkend="q:contributions"/></para></listitem> + <listitem><para><xref linkend="q:interfaceDeclarations"/></para></listitem> + <listitem><para><xref linkend="q:aspectjandj2me"/></para></listitem> + <listitem><para><xref linkend="q:adviceOnOveriddenMethods"/></para></listitem> + <listitem><para><xref linkend="q:tejpsp"/></para></listitem> + <listitem><para><xref linkend="q:searchingsite"/></para></listitem> </itemizedlist> </para> </answer> |