How to write annotation processor to raise a warning message if a java source is calling an annotated method - compilation

Question

Here is my requirement in Java 6: I am using Eclipse JUNO.
Annotate a method with a custom annotation.
During compilation, raise warning message if a method is calling the
annotated method.
I am looking for something like #Deprecated annotation.
This is what I have done:
Wrote a custom annotation.
Wrote an annotation processor to read and process the methods with
the annotation.
Created a jar and added it in annotation processor path. My sample code (see below) raises the warning message in the annotated method. But it is not my requirement.
What I couldn’t do:
I could not get the calling methods. I want to raise the warning
message in those calling methods.
My sample code:
Custom annotation:
package tool.apichecks;
import java.lang.annotation.ElementType;
import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
import java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy;
import java.lang.annotation.Target;
#Retention(RetentionPolicy.SOURCE)
#Target({ ElementType.METHOD })
public #interface HighCostMethod {
String altMethod();
}
Annotation Processor:
package tool.apichecks;
import java.util.Set;
import javax.annotation.processing.AbstractProcessor;
import javax.annotation.processing.ProcessingEnvironment;
import javax.annotation.processing.RoundEnvironment;
import javax.annotation.processing.SupportedAnnotationTypes;
import javax.lang.model.element.Element;
import javax.lang.model.element.TypeElement;
import javax.tools.Diagnostic.Kind;
#SupportedAnnotationTypes({ "tool.apichecks.HighCostMethod" })
public class MethodProcessor extends AbstractProcessor {
private enum MethodType {
HIGH_COST(HighCostMethod.class.getName());
private String name;
private MethodType(String name) {
this.name = name;
}
private static MethodType getMethodType(String name) {
MethodType methodType = null;
for (MethodType methodType2 : MethodType.values()) {
if (methodType2.name.equals(name)) {
methodType = methodType2;
break;
}
}
return methodType;
}
}
private ProcessingEnvironment processingEnvironment;
#Override
public synchronized void init(ProcessingEnvironment processingEnvironment) {
this.processingEnvironment = processingEnvironment;
}
#Override
public boolean process(Set<? extends TypeElement> annotations,
RoundEnvironment roundEnvironment) {
if (!roundEnvironment.processingOver()) {
for (TypeElement annotation : annotations) {
final Set<? extends Element> elements = roundEnvironment
.getElementsAnnotatedWith(annotation);
MethodType methodType = MethodType.getMethodType(annotation
.toString());
for (Element element : elements) {
switch (methodType) {
case HIGH_COST: {
processHighCostMethod(element);
break;
}
}
}
}
}
return true;
}
protected void processHighCostMethod(Element element) {
HighCostMethod highCostMethod = element
.getAnnotation(HighCostMethod.class);
/* TODO This warns the annotated method itself. I don't want this. I want to warn the methods that calls this method */
processingEnvironment
.getMessager()
.printMessage(
Kind.WARNING,
String.format(
"Do not use high cost method %s. Instead use %s method.",
element, highCostMethod.altMethod()), element);
}
}

Answer 1

Using an AnnotationProcessor will only work on the files containing the annotations or overriding methods, but not calling methods. Maybe there's a way around this, but then you will probably be limited by projects, because the processor only looks at one project at a time.
I guess you need to write an Eclipse plugin with a builder, that analyses code in all files and checks called methods for annotations.
That a lot more work than an annotation processor, but you also have more options. E.g. you could implement a quick fix for the error markers.