Aspect-oriented programming languages support the modular definition of crosscutting abstractions. In most languages, this is achieved through pointcuts, which provide a means for quantifying over execution events in order to implicitly trigger advice. Notably, an advice is more than a simple event handler because of its ability to override the underlying computation. Unrestricted quantification and arbitrary advice computation are powerful but dangerous.

In this talk we look at a number of approaches to tame aspects in order to retain their benefits without sacrificing important software engineering properties, like modular reasoning, separate development, type soundness, and controlled interferences. Specifically, we report on advances in scoping, interfaces, typing and effects, highlighting recent achievements as well as open challenges.

Biography

Éric Tanter is an Associate Professor in the Computer Science Department of the University of Chile, where he co-leads the PLEIAD laboratory. He received the PhD degree in computer science from both the University of Nantes and the University of Chile (2004). His research interests include programming languages and tool support for modular and adaptable software.