Source Code Retrieval Processor

A Java annotation processor that collects method-level metadata during compilation and generates a registry class for runtime access.

What it does

• scans compiled source units in annotation-processing rounds
• inspects discovered classes and methods
• extracts a lightweight method signature/source line hint
• generates MethodRegistry with MethodInfo entries

The generated registry can be used by downstream tooling for search, retrieval, traceability, or explanation workflows.

Current status

This repository is a working prototype.

• implemented: core annotation processor and generated registry output
• implemented: service registration for javax.annotation.processing.Processor
• pending: robust method-source extraction (currently naive string matching)
• pending: richer model conversion (JsonConverter, helper models)

Project structure

• src/main/java/org/wseresearch/source_code_retrieval/SourceCodeProcessor.java - annotation processor
• src/main/java/org/wseresearch/source_code_retrieval/MethodInfo.java - metadata model
• src/main/resources/META-INF/services/javax.annotation.processing.Processor - processor registration
• src/test/java/.../SourceCodeRetrievalApplicationTests.java - baseline test scaffold

Build

./mvnw clean test

Usage in another Maven project

Add dependency:

<dependency>
  <groupId>org.wseresearch</groupId>
  <artifactId>source-code-retrieval</artifactId>
  <version>0.0.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
</dependency>

Configure the compiler plugin:

<plugin>
  <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
  <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
  <version>3.14.0</version>
  <configuration>
    <annotationProcessorPaths>
      <path>
        <groupId>org.wseresearch</groupId>
        <artifactId>source-code-retrieval</artifactId>
        <version>${project.version}</version>
      </path>
    </annotationProcessorPaths>
  </configuration>
</plugin>

After compilation, inspect generated sources under your Maven generated-sources directory for MethodRegistry.

Notes

• Java compatibility in pom.xml currently mixes Spring Boot 3.x and explicit compiler source/target values; align this before publishing.
• For production-grade extraction, replace naive line matching with parser-based extraction (e.g., JavaParser).