Years ago I used to miss the C++ pre-processor when programming in Java. I got over it, but others obviously didn’t: they invented Apect Oriented Programming, which essentially does the same kind of thing, except in a more complicated and clever kind of way.

I admit that declarative transactions are neat, and using AOP for tracing can be handy. But intercepting method calls and messing with parameters, return values, and exceptions is wrong and dangerous in the same way that is wrong and dangerous to store your bleach in old lemonade bottles.

Please don’t use magic to change code behaviour: I don’t like that kind of surprise.