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Make Your Java Code Null-Safe Without Rewriting
(jplus.hashnode.dev)
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this post was submitted on 06 Nov 2025
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Programming
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A preprocessor is basically a compiler which produces input for another compiler. Yes, it's a compiler. The difference is that it produces source files, not bytecode.
From Wikipedia:
The emphasis is mine.
Both Typescript and SASS are examples of preprocessors.
By that logic, the C compiler would also be a preprocessor since it converts C code into assembly. Simply calling something a preprocessor just because its output is source code is not logically correct. The same applies to JPlus: the fact that it ultimately produces Java source code does not make it a preprocessor. Internally, it performs compiler-level processes such as AST generation, null-safety checks, and boilerplate code generation, so it should be regarded as a proper compiler.
The C Preprocessor also does all of those things. That's expected of a preprocessor. If you say "you can write java code with a bit of extra sugar and JPlus turns it back into 'regular' java," then that's a preprocessor.
A simple preprocessor only performs code transformation and cannot analyze the meaning of the code or ensure type safety. However, JPlus goes beyond mere transformation by providing static analysis capabilities, such as generating a parse tree and checking nullability. It also includes functionality to automatically generate necessary Java code through the apply syntax. As a result, the combination of performing nullability static analysis and generating code via apply cannot be expressed or handled using any existing Java syntax alone.