Annotation Syntax

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type: component title: Annotation Syntax created: '2026-05-25' updated: '2026-05-25' tags:

• domain/annotation
• domain/core status: mature related:
• 'Feature Model Language'
• 'Feature Metrics View'
• 'Annotation Processing Flow' sources:
• .raw/README.md
• .raw/plugin.xml

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Annotation Syntax

HAnS uses lightweight comment markers and mapping files to annotate code with features.

Inline Code Markers

Embedded via CodeAnnotationInjector (multi-host injector) — works in any file type.

Marker	Usage
&begin[FeatureName]	Start of a feature code block
&end[FeatureName]	End of a feature code block
&line[FeatureName]	Single-line feature annotation

These are parsed as comments by the host language; the injector treats them as CodeAnnotations language fragments.

File/Folder Mapping Files

File extension	Alias	Language ID
.feature-to-file	.feature-file	FileAnnotation
.feature-to-folder	.feature-folder	FolderAnnotation

Completion contributors (FileCompletionContributor) active for both FileAnnotation and FolderAnnotation.

New File Action

CreateNewFileAction ("New EFA File") in the IDE New menu — creates mapping files from a template via EFAFileTemplateManager.

Live Templates

EFA.xml provides quick-insert templates. Available in ANY and COMMENT contexts. See Live Templates.

Surround Action

"Surround with Feature Annotation" in EditorPopupMenu (uses SurroundWithLiveTemplate shortcut).

Related

• Feature Model Language
• Annotation Processing Flow
• Live Templates