What is Aspect Oriented Programming?

What is Aspect Oriented Programming (AOP)?

While designing an application, at times we all have seen that the persons involved are not able to discover a method to express the structure in code with old-style object-oriented methods. And, an application having a well-structured architecture consists of diverse layers give rise to diverse apprehensions. Software developers are always finding a way to improve the quality of software or an application. However, there is a possibility of instances when the application starts working in an abrupt manner affecting its quality. Case in point, while designing an application, which is not well-structured tend to offer necessities that is not a perfect fit for the architecture, for instance:

• A verification system must be there in an application.
• Before entering the complete database, it must be authenticated.
• A proper debugging log must be kept for proper functioning of an application.
• The performance of the tasks must be measured to understand if they are in the preferred range.

When any one of these necessities arises then a lot of work is required to avoid duplication of code. With so many inconsistencies, code needs to be added at a lot of places making maintenance more difficult. As a result, there is a possibility of a huge modification in the program. And this problem needs a permanent solution, which can re-occur at any stage of application development. This is when aspect-oriented programming comes into play. An aspect is a collective feature that is normally distributed through approaches, modules, object orders, or even whole object prototypes. In simple words, an aspect is a concern that is cross-sectional.

Case in point, it is behaviour that appears and whiffs like it should have proper and symmetrical arrangement. Confirming that the software designers reliably introduce the login in the appropriate points in the code is hard to put into effect. Aspects arrange for a mechanism, though unsatisfactory, for refining the state of affairs. While planning an application, there are generally definite requirements and concerns to be accomplished to deal with difficulty and to attain the necessary quality factors known as concerns. Aspect-oriented programming (AOP) has been projected as an innovative skill that takes on the SOC principle.

So, let us understand that what is aspect-oriented programming?

Comprehensive description of aspect-oriented programming and the concepts behind it

Aspect-oriented programming (AOP) is a programming model that separates the associated tasks from the core program’s business rationality. In addition, AOP can be used in conjunction with object-oriented programming or OOP. Mainly, it comprises of the programming techniques and tools supporting flexibility of apprehensions at the level from where the coding starts. On a broader horizon, aspect-oriented programming or AOP is a method to programming that lets overall properties of a software package to decide in what way it is assembled into an executable package. Then, we must improve metrics that allow us to reason about the usefulness of putting on AOP to specific systems. Let us say, as soon as we re-implement design patterns by means of AOP; are they any superior than the normal object-oriented designs? All in all, it really offers a lot of practical profits which are helpful in a software setting. Let us reflect upon all the practical benefits which this programming has to offer.

The myriad advantages explained:

The various advantages are described below:

• It balances object orientation and improves the maintenance and understanding of the code as it modularizes cross-cutting concerns offering beneficial properties.
• On a common note, as there is only one close-fitting module, which is secluded from the rest of the application, allows for split-up and reusability.
• What is more, it has the skill to restructure the order system by transforming only one particular class.

With all these design profits it allows the structure to decode into more reusable and improved developing modules. Though it is beneficial on a wider horizon, still it has its loop holes and disadvantageous in quite a lot of ways. They are listed below:

The myriad disadvantages explained:

• It is definitely not very easy to grasp and not documented well also.
• It also offers pitiable toolkit maintenance.
• Code bloating is likely as small source can tip to much bigger object code.
• Though it offers reusability, it is not recommended for large projects as the pain points need to be spoken before it can be extensively implemented.
• As developers are oblivious to classes occurred by aspects at times, this may not result in the way it should be, bringing about undesirable results.
• Also, it needs a lot of convincing to actually convince the management to take on AOD. This is likely as a lot of firms are aware of the loop holes generated by the present model, OO design. Firms at any point must be ready to open to accepting new technologies enlightening their developers in the most recent techniques.

On the other hand, as we all have seen that a lot of firms have tasted tremendous success working with AOP in more than a few applications.  The AOP intangible structure has assisted them to plan the systems, and the AOP-based executions have confirmed to be stress-free to develop and retain, while being comparably well-organized to much more difficult code written by means of old-style methods. It is definitely meant for adoption, especially for those who work in an It environment.

The method of applying an Aspect-Oriented Simulation structure

Generally, the process of developing an aspect-oriented simulator encompasses three segments. First and foremost, the concerns of the current system are identified, then they are implemented and finally, the development of the final system is done by joining them. Put simply, the crosscutting concerns are separated. And then, each crosscutting concern is executed individually through consuming an aspect-oriented language. As a result, the whole complication of design and execution reduces. As well, practical or OOP languages are used for the execution of simulation functional apprehensions. As a final point, an aspect weaver as AspectJ compiler is used to compose all concerns to create the ending system.

Fig 1: Applying an Aspect-Oriented Simulation structure

Conclusion

With so many advantages, AOP will turn out to be, chunk of the software designer’s tool set at some point. It is likely that for building systems AOP would be considered as the main design framework in the future. As well, lot of updates would be available for enhancing oriented programming methods with aspects. Moving and getting ahead of the curve need some normal AOP executions that are constant. And things are looking bright in this direction and this procedure has now initiated. With all these inputs, it is suggested that we must create design and application choices centred upon experiential indication. There is also need to develop tools supporting AOP so that aspects can be used efficiently and effectively. With so much to offer, aspects in aspect-oriented programming are not a fad and are here to stay. In coming years, it looks promising offering a solution for the core difficulty of the object-oriented model. An aspect-oriented model scheme offers features such as: reusability, perceptibility and can be maintained with ease.

A lot of firms are keen to adopt this model as it helps to improve the separate event simulation with novel programming models as the aspect-oriented model. It not only helps in the identification of the main crosscutting concerns and helps in upgrading the simulation quality. Though they are little far off from being a part of conventional application programming, however, they are inching closer to be one and things are definitely looking brighter.  On the other hand, AOD allows ample flexibility to modify an application, but many modifications of the application’s flow may have negative side effects. A set of principles to avoid these scenarios would facilitate development and drive AOD further.
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