When should you prefer custom annotations best practices and when should you avoid it?

When it comes to developing Java applications, the use of custom annotations can be beneficial in certain scenarios while being less desirable in others. Knowing when to deploy custom annotations is key to maintaining clean, readable, and efficient code.

When to Prefer Custom Annotations

• Code Readability: Custom annotations can improve code readability, making it easier to understand the intent behind certain operations.
• Separation of Concerns: They help in separating the business logic from configuration, thereby adhering to the Single Responsibility Principle.
• Framework Integration: If you're developing libraries or frameworks, custom annotations are useful to provide clear and effective API usage.
• Reducing Boilerplate Code: Annotations can help reduce the amount of boilerplate code required for repetitive tasks, improving overall development speed.

When to Avoid Custom Annotations

• Overhead Complexity: Adding custom annotations can introduce unnecessary complexity, especially for simple tasks that could be handled with basic code.
• Limited Reusability: If the annotations are too specific, they may not be reusable across different projects, leading to maintenance challenges.
• Performance Impact: Excessive use of annotations may lead to performance issues, particularly if they involve reflection or processing at runtime.
• Reduced Discoverability: Custom annotations may obscure the intent of code for new developers who are not familiar with the project, leading to a steeper learning curve.

Example of a Custom Annotation