[Design/RFC]: Support for annotation such as @Step #66

What would you like?

Similar to the Python SDK's decorators we can offer annotations in Java for customers who prefer an annotation-driven programming style rather than imperative/functional programming style when implementing durable operations.

For example, @durable_step from Python can become @DurableStep in Java. The customer would be able to annotate an arbitrary method with such a (configurable) annotation and call it. The SDK will take care of the internal wiring to wrap the method logic in a context.step(...).

This issue tracks the creation of a design document for such an annotation processors.

Some technical implementation options include:

• Using reflection at runtime and proxies to implement annotation.
• Using annotation processors (similar to Dagger). Technical feasibility unclear.
• Using maven/gradle plugins at build time to manipulate bytecode weaving in the logic of the processed annotation
  • Some libraries in the bytecode manipulation space include ASM, ByteBuddy, Gizmo, Java 24+ Classfile API

Possible Implementation

No response

Is this a breaking change?

No

Does this require an RFC?

Yes

Additional Context

No response