aspect-oriented programming

An idea that has been around for many years (and called many names), it is a technique that allows software writers to make the same kinds of shortcuts (called "crosscutting concerns") that are made in the real world. For instance, instead of having to write a rule like "when this happens, then do this" throughout many areas of the application, a programmer can write it in one place. Championed by Gregor Kiczales at Xerox PARC, the goal is to let programmers work more quickly and at a higher design level.