Annotations for Terracotta DSO

Introduction

Terracotta Distributed Shared Objects (DSO) configuration can normally be implemented by identifying classes in your application that need to be instrumented and locked using the appropriate XML in the Terracotta configuration file (tc-config.xml by default).

Annotations provide a mechanism for developers to mark class instrumentation, root configuration, transient fields, and locking directly in Java class files. In this case, there is no requirement to configure these in tc-config.xml.

One advantage to using Annotations is that the Terracotta definitions for your classes will stay with your code. Encapsulating all information about a class — including its Terracotta nature — in the class file improves the readability of your application. Also, refactoring annotated classes does not require changing the tc-config.xml file.

Installing Annotations

To use annotations, you must install the Terracotta Toolkit JAR using the tim-get tool:

[PROMPT] tim-get.sh install terracotta-toolkit-1.0

You should see output similar to the following:

Terracotta 3.3.0, as of 20100716-150712 (Revision 15922 by cruise@su10mo5 from 3.3)

Installing terracotta-toolkit-1.0 1.0.0 [org.terracotta.toolkit]...
   INSTALLED: terracotta-toolkit-1.0 1.0.0 [org.terracotta.toolkit] - Ok

Done. (Make sure to update your tc-config.xml with the new/updated version if necessary)

This example uses version the Terracotta Toolkit with API version 1.0, available with Terracotta kit version 3.3.0. The version you install may differ.

Configuring Your Application To Use Annotations

After installing the Terracotta Toolkit, you must add the JAR file to the Terracotta configuration file (tc-config.xml by default) and to your application's classpath. You can use tim-get to confirm the installation of the Terracotta Toolkit JAR file, locate its installation path, and obtain the configuration snippet that must be added to tc-config.xml:

[PROMPT] tim-get.sh info terracotta-toolkit-1.0

Terracotta 3.3.0, as of 20100716-150712 (Revision 15922 by cruise@su10mo5 from 3.3)

(+) terracotta-toolkit-1.0 1.0.0 [org.terracotta.toolkit]
    
   Installed: YES
    
   Author   : Terracotta, Inc.
   Homepage : http://forge.terracotta.org/releases
   Docs     : http://forge.terracotta.org/releases
   Download : http://www.terracotta.org/download/reflector/releases/org/terracotta/toolkit/
terracotta-toolkit-1.0/1.0.0/terracotta-toolkit-1.0-1.0.0.jar
   Status   : Supported
   Internal : false
   Terracotta Toolkit
   Compatible with Terracotta 3.3.0

   Dependencies:
    
      None.

   Maven Coordinates:
    
      groupId   : org.terracotta.toolkit
      artifactId: terracotta-toolkit-1.0
      version   : 1.0.0

   Configuration:
    
   <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
   <modules>
   <module group-id="org.terracotta.toolkit" name="terracotta-toolkit-1.0" version="1.0.0"/>
   </modules>
   Note: If you are installing the newest or only version, the version may be omitted.

   Installed at mystuff/terracotta-3.3.0/platform/modules/org/terracotta/toolkit/terracotta-toolkit-1.0/1.0.0
   This is the latest version.
    
   There are no other versions of this TIM that are compatible with the current installation.

(+) Installed  (-) Not installed  (!) Installed but newer version exists

The Configuration section gives the appropriate configuration required to add to the clients section of tc-config.xml. It also shows the JAR file's installation path.

Using Maven or an IDE

Terracotta Annotations define Java annotations, which means your application must include the Terracotta Toolkit as a normal Java library. If you are using Maven, this is done by adding the appropriate maven configuration to your pom.xml file. For example:

You'll also have to configure the appropriate repository:

If you are using a snapshot version, the snapshop repository must be included.

In an IDE such as Eclipse, configure the dependency as you do for any other Java library.

Using Terracotta Annotations

After the Terracotta Toolkit is installed and configured, annotations can be used.

There are currently 8 total annotations, each corresponds to a configuration element in the tc-config.xml file. They are:

• InstrumentedClass
• HonorTransient
• Root
• AutolockRead
• AutolockWrite
• AutolockConcurrentWrite
• AutolockSynchronousWrite
• DMI

InstrumentedClass

Use this annotation to mark a class instrumented.

HonorTransient

Use this annotation to honor transient fields in the instrumented class.

Root

Use this annotation to mark a field as a root.

Autolock

Use the AutolockXXX annotations to autolock methods.

If you are replacing autolock properties in tc-config.xml with AutolockXXX annotations, you may find that the lock level has not been specified. The default lock level for autolock properties in tc-config-xml is "write".

DMI

Use the DMI annotation to mark a method for DMI.