Lombok Plugin: Auto-Generates Java Code

The working principle of the Lombok plugin is to simplify the development process by automatically generating Java code at compile time. The plugin uses Java annotations to mark places such as classes, fields, and methods that require code generation. During the compilation process, the Lombok plugin parses these annotations and automatically generates corresponding code for the elements marked based on the configuration information within the annotations.

For example, the @Data annotation from the Lombok plugin can automatically generate common methods like getters, setters, toString, equals, and hashCode for a Java class. When a class is marked with the @Data annotation, the Lombok plugin will automatically generate the implementation code for these methods during compilation, eliminating the need for developers to write them manually.

The functioning of the Lombok plugin involves the plugin mechanism of the Java compiler. It achieves automatic code generation by modifying the Abstract Syntax Tree (AST) during the compilation process. The Lombok plugin is loaded during the compilation phase and registers custom annotation processors to the compiler, triggering corresponding code generation logic during compilation.

In conclusion, the Lombok plugin works by parsing annotations at compile time and modifying the abstract syntax tree of the compilation process to automatically generate code, simplifying the development process.