path: root/docs/devGuideDB/ajc.xml

<refentry id="ajc-ref" xreflabel="The ajc Command-line Reference">
  <refnamediv>
    <refname>ajc</refname>
    <refpurpose>compiler and bytecode weaver for the AspectJ and Java languages </refpurpose>
  </refnamediv>

  <refsynopsisdiv>
    <cmdsynopsis>
      <command>ajc</command>
      <arg><replaceable>Options</replaceable></arg>
      <group>
        <arg><replaceable>file...</replaceable></arg>
        <arg>@<replaceable>file...</replaceable></arg>
        <arg>-argfile <replaceable>file...</replaceable></arg>
      </group>
    </cmdsynopsis>
  </refsynopsisdiv>

  <refsect1 id="ajc" xreflabel="ajc">
    <title>Description</title>

    <para>The <command>ajc</command> command compiles AspectJ and Java
      language files, weaving aspects as necessary to produce .class files 
      compliant with any Java VM (1.1 or later). 
      To do bytecode weaving, it also accepts input classes or aspects 
      in binary form.
      </para>

    <para> The arguments after the options specify the source file(s) to compile.
        (Specify source classes using the <parameter>-injars</parameter> option, below.)
        Files may be listed directly on the command line, or listed in a file.
        The <parameter>-argfile <replaceable>file</replaceable></parameter> 
        and <parameter>@<replaceable>file</replaceable></parameter> forms
        are equivalent, and are interpreted as meaning all the files listed in
        the specified file.  Each line in these files should contain one option
        or filename. Comments, as in Java, start with <literal>//</literal> and
        extend to the end of the line.
    </para>

    <para>
        <command>NB:</command> 
        You must explicitly pass <command>ajc</command> all sources necessary 
        for the compilation.  When compiling source files containing aspects
        or pointcuts, be sure 
        to include the source files for any types affected by the aspects or
        picked out by the pointcuts.  
        (To exclude types from the scope affected by the aspect, 
         change the corresponding pointcut or declaration.)
        This is necessary because, unlike javac, ajc does not search the 
        sourcepath for classes.
        You may use the <parameter>-sourceroots</parameter> option to specify
        as source all the .aj and .java files in a set of directory trees.
    </para>

    <refsect2>
    <title>Options</title>

     <variablelist>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-injars <replaceable>JarList</replaceable></term>
        <listitem><para>
        Accept as source bytecode any .class files inside the 
        specified .jar files.  The output will include these
        classes, possibly as woven with any applicable aspects.
        JarList, like classpath, is a single argument containing
        a list of paths to jar files, delimited by the platform-
        specific classpath delimiter.
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-aspectpath <replaceable>JarList</replaceable></term>
        <listitem><para>
        Weave binary aspects from JarList zip files into all sources.
        The aspects should have been output by the same version
        of the compiler.
        To run the output classes requires putting all the 
        aspectpath entries on the run classpath.
        JarList, like classpath, is a single argument containing
        a list of paths to jar files, delimited by the platform-
        specific classpath delimiter.
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-argfile <replaceable>File</replaceable></term>
        <listitem><para>
          The file is a line-delimited list of arguments.
          These arguments are inserted into the argument list.
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-outjar <replaceable>output.jar</replaceable></term>
        <listitem><para>Put output classes in zip file output.jar.
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-incremental</term>
        <listitem><para>Run the compiler continuously.
        After the initial compilation, the compiler will
        wait to recompile until it reads a newline from the standard
        input, and will quit when it reads a 'q'.
        It will only recompile necessary components, so a recompile
        should be much faster than doing a second compile.
        This requires -sourceroots.
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-sourceroots <replaceable>DirPaths</replaceable></term>
        <listitem><para>Find and build all .java or .aj source files under 
        any directory listed in DirPaths. 
        DirPaths, like classpath, is a single argument containing
        a list of paths to directories, delimited by the platform-
        specific classpath delimiter.
        Required by -incremental.
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-emacssym</term>
        <listitem><para>
          Generate .ajesym symbol files for emacs support
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-Xlint</term>
        <listitem><para>Same as -Xlint:warning (enabled by default)
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-Xlint:{level}</term>
        <listitem><para>Set default level for messages about potential
           programming mistakes in crosscutting code.
           {level} may be ignore, warning, or error.
           This overrides entries in 
	       org/aspectj/weaver/XlintDefault.properties
           from aspectjtools.jar, but does not override levels set
           using the -Xlintfile option.
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-Xlintfile <replaceable>PropertyFile</replaceable></term>
        <listitem><para>Specify properties file to set levels for
           specific crosscutting messages.   
           PropertyFile is a path to a Java .properties file that
           takes the same property names and values as
	       org/aspectj/weaver/XlintDefault.properties
           from aspectjtools.jar, which it also overrides.
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-help</term>
        <listitem><para>
          Emit information on compiler options and usage
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-version</term>
        <listitem><para>
          Emit the version of the AspectJ compiler
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-classpath <replaceable>Path</replaceable></term>
        <listitem><para>
          Specify where to find user class files.
        Path is a single argument containing
        a list of paths to zip files or directories, 
        delimited by the platform-specific path delimiter.
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-bootclasspath <replaceable>Path</replaceable></term>
        <listitem><para>
          Override location of VM's bootclasspath 
          for purposes of evaluating types when compiling.
        Path is a single argument containing
        a list of paths to zip files or directories, 
        delimited by the platform-specific path delimiter.
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-extdirs <replaceable>Path</replaceable></term>
        <listitem><para>
          Override location of VM's extension directories 
          for purposes of evaluating types when compiling.
        Path is a single argument containing
        a list of paths to directories, 
        delimited by the platform-specific path delimiter.
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-d <replaceable>Directory</replaceable></term>
        <listitem><para>
          Specify where to place generated .class files.
          If not specified, <replaceable>Directory</replaceable> 
          defaults to the current working dir.
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-target <replaceable>[1.1|1.2]</replaceable></term>
        <listitem><para>Specify classfile target setting (1.1 or 1.2, default is 1.1)
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-1.3</term>
        <listitem><para>Set compliance level to 1.3 (default)
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-1.4</term>
        <listitem><para>Set compliance level to 1.4
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-source <replaceable>[1.3|1.4]</replaceable></term>
        <listitem><para>Toggle assertions (1.3 or 1.4, default is 1.3 
			in -1.3 mode and 1.4 in -1.4 mode).
            When using -source 1.3, an assert() statement valid under
            Java 1.4 will result in a compiler error.
          When using -source 1.4, 
          treat <literal>assert</literal> as a keyword and 
          implement assertions according to the 1.4 language spec.
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-nowarn</term>
        <listitem><para>Emit no warnings (equivalent to '-warn:none')
        This does not suppress messages
        generated by <literal>declare warning</literal> or
        <literal>Xlint</literal>.
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-warn: <replaceable>items</replaceable></term>
        <listitem><para>Emit warnings for any instances of
        the comma-delimited list of questionable code 
        (eg '-warn:unusedLocals,deprecation'):
        <programlisting><!-- unable to embed itemizedlist? -->
    constructorName        method with constructor name
    packageDefaultMethod   attempt to override package-default method
    deprecation            usage of deprecated type or member
    maskedCatchBlocks      hidden catch block
    unusedLocals           local variable never read
    unusedArguments        method argument never read
    unusedImports          import statement not used by code in file
    none                   suppress all compiler warnings
        </programlisting>
        <literal>-warn:none</literal> does not suppress messages
        generated by <literal>declare warning</literal> or
        <literal>Xlint</literal>.
        
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-deprecation</term>
        <listitem><para>Same as -warn:deprecation
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-noImportError</term>
        <listitem><para>Emit no errors for unresolved imports
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-proceedOnError</term>
        <listitem><para>Keep compiling after error, 
                        dumping class files with problem methods
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-g<replaceable>:[lines,vars,source]</replaceable></term>
        <listitem>
        	<para>debug attributes level, that may take three forms:
        <programlisting>
    -g         all debug info ('-g:lines,vars,source')
    -g:none    no debug info
    -g:{items} debug info for any/all of [lines, vars, source], e.g.,
               -g:lines,source
        </programlisting>
            
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-preserveAllLocals</term>
        <listitem><para>Preserve all local variables during code generation
        (to facilitate debugging).
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-referenceInfo</term>
        <listitem><para>Compute reference information.
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
	    <term>-encoding <replaceable>format</replaceable></term>
        <listitem><para>Specify default source encoding format.
            Specify custom encoding on a per file basis by suffixing
			each input source file/folder name with '[encoding]'.
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-verbose</term>
        <listitem><para>Emit messages about accessed/processed compilation units 
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-log <replaceable>file</replaceable></term>
        <listitem><para>Specify a log file for compiler messages.
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-progress</term>
        <listitem><para>Show progress (requires -log mode).
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-time</term>
        <listitem><para>Display speed information.
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-noExit</term>
        <listitem><para>Do not call System.exit(n) at end of compilation
			(n=0 if no error)
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-repeat <replaceable>N</replaceable></term>
        <listitem><para>Repeat compilation process N times 
        (typically to do performance analysis).
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-Xnoweave</term>
        <listitem><para>(Experimental) produce unwoven class files
        for input using -injars.
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-Xnoinline</term>
        <listitem><para>(Experimental) do not inline around advice
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-XincrementalFile <replaceable>file</replaceable></term>
        <listitem><para>(Experimental) This works like incremental mode, 
        but using a file rather than standard input to control the compiler.  
        It will recompile each time file is changed and
        and halt when file is deleted.
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term>-XserializableAspects</term>
        <listitem><para>(Experimental) Normally it is an error to declare
        aspects Serializable.  This option removes that restriction.
        </para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>
     </variablelist>

    </refsect2>

    <refsect2> <title>File names</title>

    <para>ajc accepts source files with either the <filename>.java</filename>
    extension or the <filename>.aj</filename> extension.  We normally use
    <filename>.java</filename> for all of our files in an AspectJ system -- files
    that contain aspects as well as files that contain classes.  However, if
    you have a need to mechanically distinguish files that use AspectJ's
    additional functionality from those that are pure Java we recommend using
    the <filename>.aj</filename> extension for those files.</para>

    <para>We'd like to discourage other means of mechanical distinction such as
    naming conventions or sub-packages in favor of the <filename>.aj</filename>
    extension.</para>
    <para>
    
    <itemizedlist>

    <listitem>Filename conventions are hard to enforce and lead to awkward names
    for your aspects.  Instead of <filename>TracingAspect.java</filename> we
    recommend using <filename>Tracing.aj</filename> (or just
    <filename>Tracing.java</filename>) instead.</listitem>

    <listitem>Sub-packages move aspects out of their natural place in a system
    and can create an artificial need for privileged aspects.  Instead of
    adding a sub-package like <filename>aspects</filename> we recommend using the
    <filename>.aj</filename> extension and including these files in your existing
    packages instead.</listitem>

    </itemizedlist>
    </para>

    </refsect2>

    <refsect2>
      <title>Compatibility</title>

      <para>
        AspectJ is a compatible extension to the Java programming language. The
        AspectJ compiler adheres to the <ulink
        url="http://java.sun.com/docs/books/jls/index.html"> <citetitle
        pubwork="book">The Java Language Specfication, Second
        Edition</citetitle></ulink> and to the <ulink
        url="http://java.sun.com/docs/books/vmspec/index.html"><citetitle
        pubwork="book">The Java Virtual Machine Specification, Second
        Edition</citetitle></ulink> and runs on any Java 2 compatible
        platform. The code it generates runs on any Java 1.1 or later
        compatible platform.</para>

    </refsect2>

    <refsect2>
      <title>Examples</title>

      <example id="simpleexample">
        <title>A simple example</title>

        <para>Compile two files:</para>

        <programlisting>
        ajc HelloWorld.java Trace.java
        </programlisting>

      </example>

      <example id="exampleusingargfile">
        <title>An example using -argfile/@</title>

        <para>
          To avoid specifying file names on the command line, 
          list source files in a line-delimited text argfile.
          Source file paths may be absolute or relative to the argfile,
          and may include other argfiles by @-reference.
          The following file <literal>sources.lst</literal>
          contains absolute and relative files and @-references:
          <para><programlisting>
Gui.java
/home/user/src/Library.java
data/Repository.java
data/Access.java
@../../common/common.lst
@/home/user/src/lib.lst
view/body/ArrayView.java</programlisting></para>

          Compile the files using either the -argfile or @ form:

          <para><programlisting>
ajc -argfile sources.lst
ajc @sources.lst</programlisting></para>
        </para>
        <para>
        Argfiles are also supported by jikes and javac, so you 
        can use the files in hybrid builds.  However, the support varies:
        </para>
        <para>
	    <itemizedlist>
            <listitem>Only ajc accepts command-line options</listitem>
            <listitem>Jikes and Javac do not accept internal @argfile references.
              </listitem>
            <listitem>Jikes and Javac only accept the @file form on the command line.</listitem>
	    </itemizedlist>
        </para>

      </example>
      <example id="examplebytecode">
        <title>An example using -injars and -aspectpath</title>
        <para>Bytecode weaving using -injars:
          AspectJ 1.1 supports weaving from input zip or jar files containing 
          class files.  Using input jars is like compiling the corresponding 
          source files, and all binaries are emitted to output.  Although 
          Java-compliant compilers may differ in their output, ajc should 
          take as input any class files produced by javac, jikes, eclipse, 
          and, of course, ajc.  Aspects included in -injars will be woven into
          like other .class files, but they will specify any crosscutting
          code (i.e., they will not be woven into other types).  To use
          aspects in their binary form to specify crosscutting,
          see -aspectpath below.
        </para>
        <para>Aspect libraries using -aspectpath:
          AspectJ 1.1 supports weaving from read-only libraries containing 
          aspects.  Like input jars, they affect all input; unlike input 
          jars, they themselves are not affected or emitted as output.  
          Sources compiled with aspect libraries must be run with the same 
          aspect libraries on their classpath. 
        </para>
        <para>The following example builds the tracing example in a 
        command-line environment; it creates a read-only aspect library, 
      compiles some classes for use as input bytecode, and 
       compiles the classes and other sources with the aspect library.
        </para>
        <para>The tracing example is in the AspectJ distribution 
        ({aspectj}/doc/examples/tracing).  This uses the following files:
        </para>
        <para><programlisting>
 aspectj1.1/ 
   bin/ 
     ajc 
   lib/ 
     aspectjrt.jar 
   examples/ 
     tracing/ 
       Circle.java 
       ExampleMain.java 
       lib/ 
         AbstractTrace.java 
         TraceMyClasses.java 
       notrace.lst 
       Square.java 
       tracelib.lst 
       tracev3.lst 
       TwoDShape.java 
       version3/ 
         Trace.java 
         TraceMyClasses.java 
        </programlisting></para>

<para>Below, the path separator is taken as ";", but file separators 
are "/".  All commands are on one line.  Adjust paths and 
commands to your environment as needed. 

</para><para>Setup the path, classpath, and current directory: 
    
        <para><programlisting>
    cd examples 
    export ajrt=../lib/aspectjrt.jar 
    export CLASSPATH="$ajrt" 
    export PATH="../bin:$PATH" 
        </programlisting></para>

</para><para>Build a read-only tracing library: 
        <para><programlisting>
    ajc -argfile tracing/tracelib.lst -outjar tracelib.jar 
        </programlisting></para>

</para><para>Build the application with tracing in one step: 

        <para><programlisting>
    ajc -aspectpath tracelib.jar -argfile tracing/notrace.lst -outjar tracedapp.jar 
        </programlisting></para>

</para><para>Run the application with tracing: 

        <para><programlisting>
    java -classpath "$ajrt;tracedapp.jar;tracelib.jar" tracing.ExampleMain 
        </programlisting></para>

</para><para>Build the application with tracing from binaries in two steps: 
    <listitem><para>
(a) Build the application classes (using javac for demonstration's sake): 
        <para><programlisting>
    mkdir classes 
    javac -d classes tracing/*.java 
    jar cfM app.jar -C classes . 
        </programlisting></para>

    </para></listitem>
    <listitem><para>
(b) Build the application with tracing: 
        <para><programlisting>
    ajc -injars app.jar -aspectpath tracelib.jar -outjar tracedapp.jar 
        </programlisting></para>
    </para></listitem>

</para><para>Run the application with tracing (same as above): 

        <para><programlisting>
    java -classpath "$ajrt;tracedapp.jar;tracelib.jar" tracing.ExampleMain 
        </programlisting></para>

</para><para>Run the application without tracing: 

        <para><programlisting>
    java -classpath "app.jar" tracing.ExampleMain
        </programlisting></para>
</para>

      </example>

    </refsect2>

    <refsect2>
      <title>The AspectJ compiler API</title>

      <para>The AspectJ compiler is implemented completely in Java and can be
        called as a Java class.  The only interface that should be considered
        public are the public methods in <literal>org.aspectj.tools.ajc.Main</literal>.
        E.g., <literal>main(String[] args)</literal> takes the
        the standard <command>ajc</command> command line arguments. 
        This means that an alternative way to run the
        compiler is </para>

      <cmdsynopsis>
        <command><literal>java org.aspectj.tools.ajc.Main</literal></command>
        <arg><replaceable>option...</replaceable></arg>
        <arg><replaceable>file...</replaceable></arg>
      </cmdsynopsis>
      <para>To access compiler messages programmatically, use the methods
         <literal>setHolder(IMessageHolder holder)</literal> and/or
         <literal>run(String[] args, IMessageHolder holder)</literal>.
      </para>

    </refsect2>

    <refsect2>
      <title>Stack Traces and the SourceFile attribute</title>

      <para>Unlike traditional java compilers, the AspectJ compiler may in
            certain cases generate classfiles from multiple source files.
            Unfortunately, the original Java class file format does not support 
            multiple
            SourceFile attributes.  In order to make sure all source file
            information is available, the AspectJ compiler may in some cases
            encode multiple filenames in the SourceFile attribute.  
            When the Java VM generates stack traces, it uses this attribute
            to specify the source file.
      </para>
      <para>(The AspectJ 1.0 compiler also supports the .class file extensions of JSR-45.
      These permit compliant debuggers (such as jdb in Java 1.4.1) to identify 
      the right file and line even given many source files for a single class.
      JSR-45 support is planned for ajc in AspectJ 1.1, but is not in the initial
      release.  To get fully debuggable .class files, use the -Xnoinline option.)  
      </para>

      <para>Probably the only time you may see this format is when you view
            stack traces, where you may encounter traces of the format
      </para>

<programlisting>
java.lang.NullPointerException
  at Main.new$constructor_call37(Main.java;SynchAspect.java[1k]:1030)
</programlisting>

      <para>where instead of the usual 
      </para>

<programlisting>
File:LineNumber
</programlisting>

      <para>format, you see
      </para>

<programlisting>
File0;File1[Number1];File2[Number2] ... :LineNumber
</programlisting>

      <para>In this case, LineNumber is the usual offset in lines plus the 
      "start line" of the actual source file.  That means you use LineNumber 
      both to identify the source file and to find the line at issue. 
      The number in [brackets] after each file tells you the
      virtual "start line" for that file (the first file has a start of 0).  
      </para>

      <para> In our example from the null pointer exception trace, 
      the virtual start line is 1030.  Since the file SynchAspect.java
      "starts" at line 1000 [1k], the LineNumber points to line 30 of
      SynchAspect.java.
      </para>

      <para> So, when faced with such stack traces, the way to find the actual
      source location is to look through the list of "start line" numbers to
      find the one just under the shown line number.  That is the file where
      the source location can actually be found.  Then, subtract that "start
      line" from the shown line number to find the actual line number within
      that file.
      </para>

      <para>In a class file that comes from only a single source file, the AspectJ
            compiler generates SourceFile attributes consistent with
            traditional Java compilers.
      </para>

    </refsect2>


  </refsect1>
</refentry>

<!-- Local variables: -->
<!-- fill-column: 79 -->
<!-- sgml-local-ecat-files: devguide.ced -->
<!-- sgml-parent-document:("devguide.sgml" "book" "refentry") -->
<!-- End: -->