[Springframework-developer] Annotation-based Spring Configuration

[Chris N. <C.N...@AB...>]

I've been working on an Annotation-based Spring Configuration solution
which I'd be happy to donate to the Spring project, so I wanted to
determine whether there is any interest?=20

Such initiatives seem to have received a cool reception in the past,
e.g.=20
http://opensource.atlassian.com/projects/spring/browse/SPR-1987?page=3Dal=
l
.=20

I'm an Architect working with a mainly junior development team, and when
we first started using Spring we quickly came across the problem of
keeping the XML configuration files in step with the code. As we were
already using XDoclet for J2EE configuration, we moved to using that for
Spring configuration as well. It has served us as a very good solution
for a couple of years now.=20

We're now looking to move to Spring 2.x and Java 5, and it makes great
sense for us to use type-safe Annotations instead of XDoclet (which
seems to be a dying project). I've put together a prototype that allows
for custom (e.g. user-defined) annotations to be used (so no dependency
on Spring code is introduced to the POJOs). The default annotations work
as follows:=20

@Bean(id=3D"createNewPerson")=20
@BaseProperties({=20
=20   @Property(name=3D"formView", value=3D"createPerson"),=20
=20   @Property(name=3D"successView", value=3D"createSucceeded")

})=20
public class CreateNewPersonController extends SimpleFormController {=20

=20   @Property(ref=3D"personService")=20
=20   public void setPersonService(PersonService service) {=20
=20       ...=20
=20   }=20
}=20

Properties can be configured by annotating the setter method, base-class
properties can be added to the class declaration, and so on. I'm working
on fleshing out support for all Spring features. I'd be happy for the
shape of these default annotations to be further discussed.=20

All this is enabled via adding one class (a BeanFactoryPostProcessor) to
the XML configuration. XML and Annotation-based configuration can be
mixed without restriction - typically just the abtract and "plumbing"
bean configuration is required in XML.=20

Please let me know if this is of interest. I would imagine it would be a
useful feature for all existing XDoclet users?

=20

(PS. All code has been written on my own time and has no relation with
my employer)

=20

Chris Nappin.

=20


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