Acknowledgments

Never has so much been owed to so few...or something like that anyway. This book was written by one person but supported by more than I can possibly remember to mention here, so I'll apologize up front if anyone's missed out; I've not forgotten you. It's just that I was trying (but failed) to avoid an Oscar speech.

Here is where I get an opportunity to thank the people that kept me focused and supported me through the writing of my first book. First and foremost in all things has to be my family. Thanks to Mum and Dad, who have seen me through the hardest of times with limitless smiles, warmth, and understanding. Thanks to Bobs, Rich, Ad, and even Aimee, who have always been there to keep me on the straight and narrow. You all helped me get this project complete and keep my feet on the ground when I needed it most, and for that I cannot ever thank you enough, but I'll have fun trying.

Thanks to my editor Brett McLaughlin and all at O'Reilly who saw me through my complete naïveté over the proposal and writing process and for working so hard to get this book out. A heartfelt thanks to Rob Romano for putting up with my "there will only be a small number of figures" optimism at the beginning of the project. Honestly, Rob, I really did think there would only be a few!

Thanks to the true heroes of AspectJ, the AspectJ community. In particular thanks go to Adrian Colyer, George Harley, Matthew Webster, Mik Kersten, and Wes Isberg for making AspectJ such a great implementation. To all involved on the aTrack project headed up by Ron Bodkin for providing so many interesting and useful presentations and such an impressive test bed for many of the concepts expressed in the recipes in this cookbook, and to Ramnivas Laddad for his expert and friendly advice.

Thanks to my team of dedicated, and patient, proofreaders. To Laura Paterson for being so supportive in the very early days when this book was just something I really wanted to do. Without your help and expertise I doubt this project would have gotten past the propsal stage. Also, thanks to Andy (Tiger) Winter, Rob Wilson, and Grant Tarrant-Fisher for being on the receiving end of my enthusiasm on aspect orientation and not going completely nuts. Together, you all make up the best bunch of people I've ever had the pleasure to work with.

Thanks to all in the Oxford University software engineering programme that gave each and every recipe the thorough critique it needed; especially Ganesh Sitamplan for the language input, Peet for the beginners touch, and Jeremy Gibbons for getting the whole process rolling.

Thanks go to my friends who all knew when to be there and when to leave me alone during the long days and nights as I worked and re-worked this book, and that takes real skill from some of the best people I've been fortunate enough to meet. A huge thank you goes to Jo Westcott, Sam and Martin, Jason, and Kerry. Special thanks to Jason for asking, when first told of my aim to write a book, if the book would be made into a film (I truly hope not!).

Finally, I'd like to thank Kim. You have meant so much to me in the past year and you have contributed more than anyone else to this book. Despite my best efforts to completely ruin your grammar skills, you have stuck with me and been the best of friends as well as so much more than that. Thanks alone will never be enough for all the happiness you bring me, and it's a debt I look forward to repaying for many years to come.

Last but not least, a quick catch-all to thank everyone who has helped me out while writing this book. I haven't forgotten your help and I know I owe you all a beer or two!