[aspectj-dev] DOMs and ASTs (for metrics tool purpose)

[Michal Stochmialek <misto@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello,

I'm on planning stage of development of metrics suite for aspectj 
programs. The suite will be consisted mainly of CK metrics.
I've following requirements:
 - suite should measure java and aj files
 - suite should be aware of java5 new language constructs
 - tool should be run from console (ant) without *running*
   eclipse


I would like to use AspectJ for this manner and I started
look into AspectJ's source models and syntax trees.

JDT provides DOM for this kind of purposes, but after a while I
find out, that AspectJ don't inherit it, and even modified JDT
version will reject .aj files.

After digging a while in mail archives, I found out that AJDT
provides ASM model for similar proposes. I found examples for it, and
it looks quite nice, but... it can reach only to method/advice level.
For computing method complexity or detecting aspect-object coupling
this is not enough :|

At the end, I looked at AJDT ASTs, which inherit JDT ASTs. From
developer docs (btw. a good one) I know that it provides statement
level, so its granulity is that what I need. 

Do you think AST will be good for my purposes?
Where can I get some examples how to obtain AST for a file?


best regards,
-- 
Michal Stochmialek <misto@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>