PacoSuite and JAsCo: A visual component composition environment with advanced aspect separation features

Abstract

This paper presents the visual component composition environment called PacoSuite and the tools needed for the JAsCo aspect-oriented programming language. PacoSuite allows plug-and-play component composition without in-depth technical knowledge of the components. PacoSuite uses three constructs: components, composition patterns and composition adapters. A composition pattern is an abstract and reusable description of a collaboration between components. A composition adapter on the other hand, describes transformations of a composition of components and is used to modularize crosscutting concerns. A composition adapter is able to have an implementation in the JAsCo language in order to invasively alter components. Compatibility of a given collaboration is checked using finite automaton theory and the glue-code to make the composition work is generated automatically. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2003.