# Metaprogramming

> A technique for writing programs that generate or transform other programs, at compile time or at runtime.

Record: `architecture:metaprogramming`
Kind: technique
Layer: [Declarative Core](https://banes-lab.com/records/layer/declarative-core.md)
Severity: contextual
Scope: compile-time, runtime, framework
Canonical: https://banes-lab.com/ontology#architecture-metaprogramming

Listed in [Architecture principles](https://banes-lab.com/api/records/architecture.md), after [Code as Data](https://banes-lab.com/records/architecture/code-as-data.md) and before [Reflection](https://banes-lab.com/records/architecture/reflection.md).

## Repair

- Refactored by: Add Generator Tests, Make Metadata Explicit
- Detected by: dynamic generation without tests/schema
- Violated by: unsafe/opaque generated behavior
- Measured by: generated code coverage, [complexity](https://banes-lab.com/records/reasoning/lens-complexity.md)
- Enforced by: generator validation

## Requires

- [Reflection/AST/Code Generation](https://banes-lab.com/records/lexicon/reflection-ast-code-generation.md)

## Reinforces

- [Do Not Repeat Yourself (DRY)](https://banes-lab.com/records/architecture/duplicate-code.md)
- [DSLs](https://banes-lab.com/records/lexicon/dsls.md)

## Enables

- [Boilerplate Elimination](https://banes-lab.com/records/lexicon/boilerplate-elimination.md)

## In tension with

- [Debuggability](https://banes-lab.com/records/lexicon/debuggability.md)
- [Static Analysis](https://banes-lab.com/records/architecture/static-analysis.md)
- [Explicit Handwritten Code](https://banes-lab.com/records/lexicon/explicit-handwritten-code.md)

## Tensions

- [Metaprogramming / Debuggability](https://banes-lab.com/records/tension/debuggability-metaprogramming.md)
- [Metaprogramming / Static Analysis](https://banes-lab.com/records/tension/metaprogramming-static-analysis.md)
- [Metaprogramming / Explicit Handwritten Code](https://banes-lab.com/records/tension/explicit-handwritten-code-metaprogramming.md)

## Severity

- [contextual](https://banes-lab.com/records/vocabulary/severity-contextual.md)

## Category

- [Metaprogramming / Language-Oriented Architecture](https://banes-lab.com/records/architecture-category/metaprogramming-language-oriented-architecture.md)

## Reinforced by

- [Homoiconicity](https://banes-lab.com/records/architecture/homoiconicity.md)

## Linked from

- [Correctness / Determinism / Verification](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/principles/architecture-category-correctness-determinism-verification.md)
- [Core Modular Design](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/principles/architecture-category-core-modular-design.md)
- [Metaprogramming / Language-Oriented Architecture](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/principles/architecture-category-metaprogramming-language-oriented-architecture.md)
- [Core Vocabulary](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/lexicon/lexicon-category-core-vocabulary.md)
- [Metaprogramming / Language-Oriented Architecture](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/lexicon/lexicon-category-metaprogramming-language-oriented-architecture.md)
- [Quality Attributes](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/lexicon/lexicon-category-quality-attributes.md)
- [Severity levels](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/schema/the-vocabulary-severity.md)
- [The resolutions](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/schema/the-resolutions.md)