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Pointcuts, advice, refinements, and collaborations: similarities, differences, and synergies

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Abstract

Aspect-oriented programming (AOP) is a novel programming paradigm that aims at modularizing complex software. It embraces several mechanisms including (1) pointcuts and advice as well as (2) refinements and collaborations. Though all these mechanisms deal with crosscutting concerns, i.e., a special class of design and implementation problems that challenge traditional programming paradigms, they do so in different ways. In this article we explore their relationship and their impact on modularity, which is an important prerequisite for reliable and maintainable software. Our exploration helps researchers and practitioners to understand their differences and exposes which mechanism is best used for which problem.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Informatics and Mathematics, University of Passau, Passau, Germany

    Sven Apel

  2. School of Computer Science, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany

    Christian Kästner & Martin Kuhlemann

  3. Department of Applied Informatics, Metop Research Institute, Magdeburg, Germany

    Thomas Leich

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  1. Sven Apel
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  2. Christian Kästner
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  3. Martin Kuhlemann
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  4. Thomas Leich
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Correspondence to Sven Apel.

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Apel, S., Kästner, C., Kuhlemann, M. et al. Pointcuts, advice, refinements, and collaborations: similarities, differences, and synergies. Innovations Syst Softw Eng 3, 281–289 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11334-007-0030-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11334-007-0030-3

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