@BeanProperty with PropertyChangeListener support?

Question

@BeanProperty generates simple get / set methods. Is there a way to automatically generate such methods with support for firing property change events (eg I want to use it with JFace Databinding?)

Answer 1

I've had the same question, and have been keeping a close eye out for possible answers. I think I've just stumbled across one (although I haven't tried it yet). Scala 2.9 has a feature for handling dynamic calls (meant for integration with dynamic languages, I suspect). Essentially, calls to methods which don't exist are routed to a method called applyDynamic. An implementation of that method could use reflection to check that the method signature matches a property (possibly one with an annotation similar to @BeanProperty). If there is a match, it could handle firing the event.

Answer 2

Maybe that's something where a custom compiler plugin can do the trick. Sadly I have no idea about how to write such a plugin. But at least thought I give you this pointer.

I would be very interested, if you'd come up with something along that line.