Support annotation attribute aliases and overrides via @AliasFor

This commit introduces first-class support for aliases for annotation
attributes. Specifically, this commit introduces a new @AliasFor
annotation that can be used to declare a pair of aliased attributes
within a single annotation or an alias from an attribute in a custom
composed annotation to an attribute in a meta-annotation.

To support @AliasFor within annotation instances, AnnotationUtils has
been overhauled to "synthesize" any annotations returned by "get" and
"find" searches. A SynthesizedAnnotation is an annotation that is
wrapped in a JDK dynamic proxy which provides run-time support for
@AliasFor semantics. SynthesizedAnnotationInvocationHandler is the
actual handler behind the proxy.

In addition, the contract for @AliasFor is fully validated, and an
AnnotationConfigurationException is thrown in case invalid
configuration is detected.

For example, @ContextConfiguration from the spring-test module is now
declared as follows:

    public @interface ContextConfiguration {

        @AliasFor(attribute = "locations")
        String[] value() default {};

        @AliasFor(attribute = "value")
        String[] locations() default {};

        // ...
    }

The following annotations and their related support classes have been
modified to use @AliasFor.

- @ManagedResource
- @ContextConfiguration
- @ActiveProfiles
- @TestExecutionListeners
- @TestPropertySource
- @Sql
- @ControllerAdvice
- @RequestMapping

Similarly, support for AnnotationAttributes has been reworked to
support @AliasFor as well. This allows for fine-grained control over
exactly which attributes are overridden within an annotation hierarchy.
In fact, it is now possible to declare an alias for the 'value'
attribute of a meta-annotation.

For example, given the revised declaration of @ContextConfiguration
above, one can now develop a composed annotation with a custom
attribute override as follows.

    @ContextConfiguration
    public @interface MyTestConfig {

        @AliasFor(
           annotation = ContextConfiguration.class,
           attribute = "locations"
        )
        String[] xmlFiles();

        // ...
    }

Consequently, the following are functionally equivalent.

- @MyTestConfig(xmlFiles = "test.xml")
- @ContextConfiguration("test.xml")
- @ContextConfiguration(locations = "test.xml").

Issue: SPR-11512, SPR-11513

spring-context/src/main/java/org/springframework/jmx/export/annotation/AnnotationJmxAttributeSource.java

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2002-2014 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2002-2015 the original author or authors.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ import org.springframework.jmx.export.metadata.ManagedNotification;
 import org.springframework.jmx.export.metadata.ManagedOperation;
 import org.springframework.jmx.export.metadata.ManagedOperationParameter;
 import org.springframework.jmx.export.metadata.ManagedResource;
-import org.springframework.util.StringUtils;
 import org.springframework.util.StringValueResolver;
 
 /**
@@ -66,7 +65,6 @@ public class AnnotationJmxAttributeSource implements JmxAttributeSource, BeanFac
 		}
 	}
 
-
 	@Override
 	public ManagedResource getManagedResource(Class<?> beanClass) throws InvalidMetadataException {
 		org.springframework.jmx.export.annotation.ManagedResource ann =
@@ -76,13 +74,6 @@ public class AnnotationJmxAttributeSource implements JmxAttributeSource, BeanFac
 		}
 		ManagedResource managedResource = new ManagedResource();
 		AnnotationBeanUtils.copyPropertiesToBean(ann, managedResource, this.embeddedValueResolver);
-		if (!"".equals(ann.value()) && !StringUtils.hasLength(managedResource.getObjectName())) {
-			String value = ann.value();
-			if (this.embeddedValueResolver != null) {
-				value = this.embeddedValueResolver.resolveStringValue(value);
-			}
-			managedResource.setObjectName(value);
-		}
 		return managedResource;
 	}
 

spring-context/src/main/java/org/springframework/jmx/export/annotation/ManagedResource.java

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2002-2012 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2002-2015 the original author or authors.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
 import java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy;
 import java.lang.annotation.Target;
 
+import org.springframework.core.annotation.AliasFor;
+
 /**
  * JDK 1.5+ class-level annotation that indicates to register instances of a
  * class with a JMX server, corresponding to the ManagedResource attribute.
@@ -34,6 +36,7 @@ import java.lang.annotation.Target;
  *
  * @author Rob Harrop
  * @author Juergen Hoeller
+ * @author Sam Brannen
  * @since 1.2
  * @see org.springframework.jmx.export.metadata.ManagedResource
  */
@@ -44,11 +47,12 @@ import java.lang.annotation.Target;
 public @interface ManagedResource {
 
 	/**
-	 * The annotation value is equivalent to the {@code objectName}
-	 * attribute, for simple default usage.
+	 * Alias for the {@link #objectName} attribute, for simple default usage.
 	 */
+	@AliasFor(attribute = "objectName")
 	String value() default "";
 
+	@AliasFor(attribute = "value")
 	String objectName() default "";
 
 	String description() default "";

spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/annotation/AliasFor.java

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2002-2015 the original author or authors.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.springframework.core.annotation;
+
+import java.lang.annotation.Annotation;
+import java.lang.annotation.Documented;
+import java.lang.annotation.ElementType;
+import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
+import java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy;
+import java.lang.annotation.Target;
+
+/**
+ * TODO Document @AliasFor.
+ *
+ * @author Sam Brannen
+ * @since 4.2
+ */
+@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
+@Target(ElementType.METHOD)
+@Documented
+public @interface AliasFor {
+
+	String attribute();
+
+	Class<? extends Annotation> annotation() default Annotation.class;
+
+}

spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/annotation/AnnotatedElementUtils.java

@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ import org.springframework.core.BridgeMethodResolver;
 import org.springframework.util.Assert;
 import org.springframework.util.LinkedMultiValueMap;
 import org.springframework.util.MultiValueMap;
+import org.springframework.util.ReflectionUtils;
+import org.springframework.util.StringUtils;
 
 /**
  * General utility methods for finding annotations and meta-annotations on
@@ -145,7 +147,7 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtils {
 				searchWithGetSemantics(annotation.annotationType(), annotationType, new SimpleAnnotationProcessor<Object>() {
 
 					@Override
-					public Object process(Annotation annotation, int metaDepth) {
+					public Object process(AnnotatedElement annotatedElement, Annotation annotation, int metaDepth) {
 						types.add(annotation.annotationType().getName());
 						return CONTINUE;
 					}
@@ -153,6 +155,7 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtils {
 			}
 		}
 		catch (Throwable ex) {
+			AnnotationUtils.rethrowAnnotationConfigurationException(ex);
 			throw new IllegalStateException("Failed to introspect annotations on " + element, ex);
 		}
 
@@ -179,7 +182,7 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtils {
 
 		return Boolean.TRUE.equals(searchWithGetSemantics(element, annotationType, new SimpleAnnotationProcessor<Boolean>() {
 			@Override
-			public Boolean process(Annotation annotation, int metaDepth) {
+			public Boolean process(AnnotatedElement annotatedElement, Annotation annotation, int metaDepth) {
 				boolean found = annotation.annotationType().getName().equals(annotationType);
 				return ((found && (metaDepth > 0)) ? Boolean.TRUE : CONTINUE);
 			}
@@ -208,7 +211,7 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtils {
 
 		return Boolean.TRUE.equals(searchWithGetSemantics(element, annotationType, new SimpleAnnotationProcessor<Boolean>() {
 			@Override
-			public Boolean process(Annotation annotation, int metaDepth) {
+			public Boolean process(AnnotatedElement annotatedElement, Annotation annotation, int metaDepth) {
 				boolean found = annotation.annotationType().getName().equals(annotationType);
 				return (found ? Boolean.TRUE : CONTINUE);
 			}
@@ -273,8 +276,12 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtils {
 	 */
 	public static AnnotationAttributes getAnnotationAttributes(AnnotatedElement element, String annotationType,
 			boolean classValuesAsString, boolean nestedAnnotationsAsMap) {
-		return searchWithGetSemantics(element, annotationType, new MergedAnnotationAttributesProcessor(annotationType,
-			classValuesAsString, nestedAnnotationsAsMap));
+
+		AnnotationAttributes attributes = searchWithGetSemantics(element, annotationType,
+			new MergedAnnotationAttributesProcessor(annotationType, classValuesAsString, nestedAnnotationsAsMap));
+		AnnotationUtils.postProcessAnnotationAttributes(element, attributes, classValuesAsString,
+			nestedAnnotationsAsMap);
+		return attributes;
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -297,7 +304,7 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtils {
 	public static AnnotationAttributes findAnnotationAttributes(AnnotatedElement element,
 			Class<? extends Annotation> annotationType) {
 		Assert.notNull(annotationType, "annotationType must not be null");
-		return findAnnotationAttributes(element, annotationType.getName(), false, false);
+		return findAnnotationAttributes(element, annotationType.getName());
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -357,8 +364,12 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtils {
 	 */
 	public static AnnotationAttributes findAnnotationAttributes(AnnotatedElement element, String annotationType,
 			boolean classValuesAsString, boolean nestedAnnotationsAsMap) {
-		return searchWithFindSemantics(element, annotationType, new MergedAnnotationAttributesProcessor(annotationType,
-			classValuesAsString, nestedAnnotationsAsMap));
+
+		AnnotationAttributes attributes = searchWithFindSemantics(element, annotationType,
+			new MergedAnnotationAttributesProcessor(annotationType, classValuesAsString, nestedAnnotationsAsMap));
+		AnnotationUtils.postProcessAnnotationAttributes(element, attributes, classValuesAsString,
+			nestedAnnotationsAsMap);
+		return attributes;
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -417,7 +428,7 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtils {
 		searchWithGetSemantics(element, annotationType, new SimpleAnnotationProcessor<Void>() {
 
 			@Override
-			public Void process(Annotation annotation, int metaDepth) {
+			public Void process(AnnotatedElement annotatedElement, Annotation annotation, int metaDepth) {
 				boolean found = annotation.annotationType().getName().equals(annotationType);
 				if (found) {
 					AnnotationAttributes annotationAttributes = AnnotationUtils.getAnnotationAttributes(annotation,
@@ -450,6 +461,7 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtils {
 			return searchWithGetSemantics(element, annotationType, processor, new HashSet<AnnotatedElement>(), 0);
 		}
 		catch (Throwable ex) {
+			AnnotationUtils.rethrowAnnotationConfigurationException(ex);
 			throw new IllegalStateException("Failed to introspect annotations on " + element, ex);
 		}
 	}
@@ -482,8 +494,8 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtils {
 
 				// Start searching within locally declared annotations
 				List<Annotation> declaredAnnotations = Arrays.asList(element.getDeclaredAnnotations());
-				T result = searchWithGetSemanticsInAnnotations(declaredAnnotations, annotationType, processor, visited,
-					metaDepth);
+				T result = searchWithGetSemanticsInAnnotations(element, declaredAnnotations, annotationType, processor,
+					visited, metaDepth);
 				if (result != null) {
 					return result;
 				}
@@ -496,16 +508,17 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtils {
 				}
 
 				// Continue searching within inherited annotations
-				result = searchWithGetSemanticsInAnnotations(inheritedAnnotations, annotationType, processor, visited,
-					metaDepth);
+				result = searchWithGetSemanticsInAnnotations(element, inheritedAnnotations, annotationType, processor,
+					visited, metaDepth);
 				if (result != null) {
 					return result;
 				}
 			}
 			catch (Exception ex) {
-				AnnotationUtils.logIntrospectionFailure(element, ex);
+				AnnotationUtils.handleIntrospectionFailure(element, ex);
 			}
 		}
+
 		return null;
 	}
 
@@ -521,6 +534,8 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtils {
 	 * {@link Processor#process process()} method of the {@link Processor}
 	 * API.
 	 *
+	 * @param annotatedElement the element that is annotated with the supplied
+	 * annotations, used for contextual logging; may be {@code null} if unknown
 	 * @param annotations the annotations to search in; never {@code null}
 	 * @param annotationType the fully qualified class name of the annotation
 	 * type to find; never {@code null} or empty
@@ -529,14 +544,15 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtils {
 	 * @param metaDepth the meta-depth of the annotation
 	 * @return the result of the processor, potentially {@code null}
 	 */
-	private static <T> T searchWithGetSemanticsInAnnotations(List<Annotation> annotations, String annotationType,
-			Processor<T> processor, Set<AnnotatedElement> visited, int metaDepth) {
+	private static <T> T searchWithGetSemanticsInAnnotations(AnnotatedElement annotatedElement,
+			List<Annotation> annotations, String annotationType, Processor<T> processor, Set<AnnotatedElement> visited,
+			int metaDepth) {
 
 		// Search in annotations
 		for (Annotation annotation : annotations) {
 			if (!AnnotationUtils.isInJavaLangAnnotationPackage(annotation)
 					&& (annotation.annotationType().getName().equals(annotationType) || metaDepth > 0)) {
-				T result = processor.process(annotation, metaDepth);
+				T result = processor.process(annotatedElement, annotation, metaDepth);
 				if (result != null) {
 					return result;
 				}
@@ -549,7 +565,7 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtils {
 				T result = searchWithGetSemantics(annotation.annotationType(), annotationType, processor, visited,
 					metaDepth + 1);
 				if (result != null) {
-					processor.postProcess(annotation, result);
+					processor.postProcess(annotatedElement, annotation, result);
 					return result;
 				}
 			}
@@ -599,6 +615,7 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtils {
 				searchOnMethodsInInterfaces, searchOnMethodsInSuperclasses, processor, new HashSet<AnnotatedElement>(), 0);
 		}
 		catch (Throwable ex) {
+			AnnotationUtils.rethrowAnnotationConfigurationException(ex);
 			throw new IllegalStateException("Failed to introspect annotations on " + element, ex);
 		}
 	}
@@ -646,7 +663,7 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtils {
 				for (Annotation annotation : annotations) {
 					if (!AnnotationUtils.isInJavaLangAnnotationPackage(annotation)
 							&& (annotation.annotationType().getName().equals(annotationType) || metaDepth > 0)) {
-						T result = processor.process(annotation, metaDepth);
+						T result = processor.process(element, annotation, metaDepth);
 						if (result != null) {
 							return result;
 						}
@@ -660,7 +677,7 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtils {
 							searchOnInterfaces, searchOnSuperclasses, searchOnMethodsInInterfaces,
 							searchOnMethodsInSuperclasses, processor, visited, metaDepth + 1);
 						if (result != null) {
-							processor.postProcess(annotation, result);
+							processor.postProcess(annotation.annotationType(), annotation, result);
 							return result;
 						}
 					}
@@ -756,7 +773,7 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtils {
 				}
 			}
 			catch (Exception ex) {
-				AnnotationUtils.logIntrospectionFailure(element, ex);
+				AnnotationUtils.handleIntrospectionFailure(element, ex);
 			}
 		}
 		return null;
@@ -840,12 +857,15 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtils {
 		 * of 0; a meta-annotation will have a depth of 1; and a
 		 * meta-meta-annotation will have a depth of 2; etc.
 		 *
+		 * @param annotatedElement the element that is annotated with the
+		 * supplied annotation, used for contextual logging; may be
+		 * {@code null} if unknown
 		 * @param annotation the annotation to process
 		 * @param metaDepth the meta-depth of the annotation
 		 * @return the result of the processing, or {@code null} to continue
 		 * searching for additional annotations
 		 */
-		T process(Annotation annotation, int metaDepth);
+		T process(AnnotatedElement annotatedElement, Annotation annotation, int metaDepth);
 
 		/**
 		 * Post-process the result returned by the {@link #process} method.
@@ -855,10 +875,13 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtils {
 		 * {@link AnnotatedElement} and an invocation of {@link #process}
 		 * that returned a non-null value.
 		 *
+		 * @param annotatedElement the element that is annotated with the
+		 * supplied annotation, used for contextual logging; may be
+		 * {@code null} if unknown
 		 * @param annotation the annotation to post-process
 		 * @param result the result to post-process
 		 */
-		void postProcess(Annotation annotation, T result);
+		void postProcess(AnnotatedElement annotatedElement, Annotation annotation, T result);
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -872,7 +895,7 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtils {
 		 * <em>No-op</em>.
 		 */
 		@Override
-		public final void postProcess(Annotation annotation, T result) {
+		public final void postProcess(AnnotatedElement annotatedElement, Annotation annotation, T result) {
 			/* no-op */
 		}
 	}
@@ -887,30 +910,64 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtils {
 	 */
 	private static class MergedAnnotationAttributesProcessor implements Processor<AnnotationAttributes> {
 
-		private final String annotationType;
+		private final String annotationTypeName;
 		private final boolean classValuesAsString;
 		private final boolean nestedAnnotationsAsMap;
 
 
-		MergedAnnotationAttributesProcessor(String annotationType, boolean classValuesAsString, boolean nestedAnnotationsAsMap) {
-			this.annotationType = annotationType;
+		MergedAnnotationAttributesProcessor(String annotationType, boolean classValuesAsString,
+				boolean nestedAnnotationsAsMap) {
+			this.annotationTypeName = annotationType;
 			this.classValuesAsString = classValuesAsString;
 			this.nestedAnnotationsAsMap = nestedAnnotationsAsMap;
 		}
 
 		@Override
-		public AnnotationAttributes process(Annotation annotation, int metaDepth) {
-			boolean found = annotation.annotationType().getName().equals(annotationType);
-			return (found ? AnnotationUtils.getAnnotationAttributes(annotation, classValuesAsString, nestedAnnotationsAsMap) : null);
+		public AnnotationAttributes process(AnnotatedElement annotatedElement, Annotation annotation, int metaDepth) {
+			boolean found = annotation.annotationType().getName().equals(this.annotationTypeName);
+			return (found ? AnnotationUtils.getAnnotationAttributes(annotatedElement, annotation,
+				this.classValuesAsString, this.nestedAnnotationsAsMap, true, false) : null);
 		}
 
 		@Override
-		public void postProcess(Annotation annotation, AnnotationAttributes attributes) {
-			for (String key : attributes.keySet()) {
-				if (!AnnotationUtils.VALUE.equals(key)) {
-					Object value = AnnotationUtils.getValue(annotation, key);
-					if (value != null) {
-						attributes.put(key, AnnotationUtils.adaptValue(value, classValuesAsString, nestedAnnotationsAsMap));
+		public void postProcess(AnnotatedElement element, Annotation annotation, AnnotationAttributes attributes) {
+			annotation = AnnotationUtils.synthesizeAnnotation(annotation);
+			Class<? extends Annotation> targetAnnotationType = attributes.annotationType();
+
+			for (Method attributeMethod : AnnotationUtils.getAttributeMethods(annotation.annotationType())) {
+				String attributeName = attributeMethod.getName();
+				String aliasedAttributeName = AnnotationUtils.getAliasedAttributeName(attributeMethod,
+					targetAnnotationType);
+
+				// Explicit annotation attribute override declared via @AliasFor
+				if (StringUtils.hasText(aliasedAttributeName)) {
+					if (attributes.containsKey(aliasedAttributeName)) {
+						Object value = AnnotationUtils.getValue(annotation, attributeName);
+						attributes.put(aliasedAttributeName, AnnotationUtils.adaptValue(element, value,
+							this.classValuesAsString, this.nestedAnnotationsAsMap));
+					}
+				}
+				// Implicit annotation attribute override based on convention
+				else if (!AnnotationUtils.VALUE.equals(attributeName) && attributes.containsKey(attributeName)) {
+					Object value = AnnotationUtils.getValue(annotation, attributeName);
+					Object adaptedValue = AnnotationUtils.adaptValue(element, value, this.classValuesAsString,
+						this.nestedAnnotationsAsMap);
+					attributes.put(attributeName, adaptedValue);
+
+					// If an aliased attribute defined by @AliasFor semantics does not
+					// already have an explicit value, ensure that the aliased attribute
+					// is also present in the map with a value identical to its mirror
+					// alias.
+					Method attributeMethodInTarget = ReflectionUtils.findMethod(targetAnnotationType, attributeName);
+					if (attributeMethodInTarget != null) {
+						String aliasedAttributeNameInTarget = AnnotationUtils.getAliasedAttributeName(
+							attributeMethodInTarget, null);
+						if (aliasedAttributeNameInTarget != null) {
+							Object aliasedValueInTarget = attributes.get(aliasedAttributeNameInTarget);
+							if (aliasedValueInTarget == null) {
+								attributes.put(aliasedAttributeNameInTarget, adaptedValue);
+							}
+						}
 					}
 				}
 			}

spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/annotation/AnnotationAttributes.java

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 package org.springframework.core.annotation;
 
+import java.lang.annotation.Annotation;
 import java.lang.reflect.Array;
 import java.util.Iterator;
 import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
@@ -25,21 +26,41 @@ import org.springframework.util.Assert;
 import org.springframework.util.StringUtils;
 
 /**
- * {@link LinkedHashMap} subclass representing annotation attribute key/value pairs
- * as read by Spring's reflection- or ASM-based {@link org.springframework.core.type.AnnotationMetadata}
- * implementations. Provides 'pseudo-reification' to avoid noisy Map generics in the calling code
- * as well as convenience methods for looking up annotation attributes in a type-safe fashion.
+ * {@link LinkedHashMap} subclass representing annotation attribute key/value
+ * pairs as read by Spring's reflection- or ASM-based
+ * {@link org.springframework.core.type.AnnotationMetadata} implementations,
+ * {@link AnnotationUtils}, and {@link AnnotatedElementUtils}.
+ *
+ * <p>Provides 'pseudo-reification' to avoid noisy Map generics in the calling
+ * code as well as convenience methods for looking up annotation attributes
+ * in a type-safe fashion.
  *
  * @author Chris Beams
+ * @author Sam Brannen
  * @since 3.1.1
  */
 @SuppressWarnings("serial")
 public class AnnotationAttributes extends LinkedHashMap<String, Object> {
 
+	private final Class<? extends Annotation> annotationType;
+
+
 	/**
 	 * Create a new, empty {@link AnnotationAttributes} instance.
 	 */
 	public AnnotationAttributes() {
+		this.annotationType = null;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Create a new, empty {@link AnnotationAttributes} instance for the
+	 * specified {@code annotationType}.
+	 * @param annotationType the type of annotation represented by this
+	 * {@code AnnotationAttributes} instance
+	 * @since 4.2
+	 */
+	public AnnotationAttributes(Class<? extends Annotation> annotationType) {
+		this.annotationType = annotationType;
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -49,6 +70,7 @@ public class AnnotationAttributes extends LinkedHashMap<String, Object> {
 	 */
 	public AnnotationAttributes(int initialCapacity) {
 		super(initialCapacity);
+		this.annotationType = null;
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -59,8 +81,18 @@ public class AnnotationAttributes extends LinkedHashMap<String, Object> {
 	 */
 	public AnnotationAttributes(Map<String, Object> map) {
 		super(map);
+		this.annotationType = null;
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Get the type of annotation represented by this {@code AnnotationAttributes}
+	 * instance.
+	 * @return the annotation type, or {@code null} if unknown
+	 * @since 4.2
+	 */
+	public Class<? extends Annotation> annotationType() {
+		return this.annotationType;
+	}
 
 	public String getString(String attributeName) {
 		return doGet(attributeName, String.class);
@@ -106,7 +138,9 @@ public class AnnotationAttributes extends LinkedHashMap<String, Object> {
 		Assert.hasText(attributeName, "attributeName must not be null or empty");
 		Object value = get(attributeName);
 		if (value == null) {
-			throw new IllegalArgumentException(String.format("Attribute '%s' not found", attributeName));
+			throw new IllegalArgumentException(String.format(
+				"Attribute '%s' not found in attributes for annotation [%s]",
+				attributeName, (annotationType() != null ? annotationType.getName() : "unknown")));
 		}
 		if (!expectedType.isInstance(value)) {
 			if (expectedType.isArray() && expectedType.getComponentType().isInstance(value)) {
@@ -115,9 +149,10 @@ public class AnnotationAttributes extends LinkedHashMap<String, Object> {
 				value = arrayValue;
 			}
 			else {
-				throw new IllegalArgumentException(
-						String.format("Attribute '%s' is of type [%s], but [%s] was expected.",
-						attributeName, value.getClass().getSimpleName(), expectedType.getSimpleName()));
+				throw new IllegalArgumentException(String.format(
+					"Attribute '%s' is of type [%s], but [%s] was expected in attributes for annotation [%s]",
+					attributeName, value.getClass().getSimpleName(), expectedType.getSimpleName(),
+					(annotationType() != null ? annotationType.getName() : "unknown")));
 			}
 		}
 		return (T) value;
@@ -150,10 +185,11 @@ public class AnnotationAttributes extends LinkedHashMap<String, Object> {
 
 
 	/**
-	 * Return an {@link AnnotationAttributes} instance based on the given map; if the map
-	 * is already an {@code AnnotationAttributes} instance, it is casted and returned
-	 * immediately without creating any new instance; otherwise create a new instance by
-	 * wrapping the map with the {@link #AnnotationAttributes(Map)} constructor.
+	 * Return an {@link AnnotationAttributes} instance based on the given map.
+	 * <p>If the map is already an {@code AnnotationAttributes} instance, it
+	 * will be cast and returned immediately without creating a new instance.
+	 * Otherwise a new instance will be created by passing the supplied map
+	 * to the {@link #AnnotationAttributes(Map)} constructor.
 	 * @param map original source of annotation attribute key/value pairs
 	 */
 	public static AnnotationAttributes fromMap(Map<String, Object> map) {

spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/annotation/AnnotationConfigurationException.java

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2002-2015 the original author or authors.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.springframework.core.annotation;
+
+/**
+ * Thrown by {@link AnnotationUtils} if an annotation is improperly configured.
+ *
+ * @author Sam Brannen
+ * @since 4.2
+ */
+@SuppressWarnings("serial")
+public class AnnotationConfigurationException extends RuntimeException {
+
+	/**
+	 * Construct a new {@code AnnotationConfigurationException} with the
+	 * supplied message.
+	 * @param message the detail message
+	 */
+	public AnnotationConfigurationException(String message) {
+		super(message);
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Construct a new {@code AnnotationConfigurationException} with the
+	 * supplied message and cause.
+	 * @param message the detail message
+	 * @param cause the root cause
+	 */
+	public AnnotationConfigurationException(String message, Throwable cause) {
+		super(message, cause);
+	}
+
+}

spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/annotation/AnnotationUtils.java

@@ -18,9 +18,13 @@ package org.springframework.core.annotation;
 
 import java.lang.annotation.Annotation;
 import java.lang.reflect.AnnotatedElement;
+import java.lang.reflect.InvocationHandler;
+import java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException;
 import java.lang.reflect.Method;
-import java.util.Arrays;
+import java.lang.reflect.Proxy;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Collections;
+import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.HashSet;
 import java.util.LinkedHashSet;
 import java.util.List;
@@ -29,9 +33,9 @@ import java.util.Set;
 
 import org.apache.commons.logging.Log;
 import org.apache.commons.logging.LogFactory;
-
 import org.springframework.core.BridgeMethodResolver;
 import org.springframework.util.Assert;
+import org.springframework.util.ClassUtils;
 import org.springframework.util.ConcurrentReferenceHashMap;
 import org.springframework.util.ObjectUtils;
 import org.springframework.util.ReflectionUtils;
@@ -88,9 +92,17 @@ import org.springframework.util.StringUtils;
  */
 public abstract class AnnotationUtils {
 
-	/** The attribute name for annotations with a single element */
+	/**
+	 * The attribute name for annotations with a single element.
+	 */
 	public static final String VALUE = "value";
 
+	/**
+	 * A object that can be stored in {@link AnnotationAttributes} as a
+	 * placeholder for an attribute's declared default value.
+	 */
+	public static final Object DEFAULT_VALUE_PLACEHOLDER = "<SPRING DEFAULT VALUE PLACEHOLDER>";
+
 
 	private static final Map<AnnotationCacheKey, Annotation> findAnnotationCache =
 			new ConcurrentReferenceHashMap<AnnotationCacheKey, Annotation>(256);
@@ -116,14 +128,15 @@ public abstract class AnnotationUtils {
 	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
 	public static <A extends Annotation> A getAnnotation(Annotation ann, Class<A> annotationType) {
 		if (annotationType.isInstance(ann)) {
-			return (A) ann;
+			return synthesizeAnnotation((A) ann);
 		}
+		Class<? extends Annotation> annotatedElement = ann.annotationType();
 		try {
-			return ann.annotationType().getAnnotation(annotationType);
+			return synthesizeAnnotation(annotatedElement, annotatedElement.getAnnotation(annotationType));
 		}
 		catch (Exception ex) {
 			// Assuming nested Class values not resolvable within annotation attributes...
-			logIntrospectionFailure(ann.annotationType(), ex);
+			handleIntrospectionFailure(annotatedElement, ex);
 			return null;
 		}
 	}
@@ -151,11 +164,11 @@ public abstract class AnnotationUtils {
 					}
 				}
 			}
-			return ann;
+			return synthesizeAnnotation(annotatedElement, ann);
 		}
 		catch (Exception ex) {
 			// Assuming nested Class values not resolvable within annotation attributes...
-			logIntrospectionFailure(annotatedElement, ex);
+			handleIntrospectionFailure(annotatedElement, ex);
 			return null;
 		}
 	}
@@ -195,7 +208,7 @@ public abstract class AnnotationUtils {
 		}
 		catch (Exception ex) {
 			// Assuming nested Class values not resolvable within annotation attributes...
-			logIntrospectionFailure(annotatedElement, ex);
+			handleIntrospectionFailure(annotatedElement, ex);
 		}
 		return null;
 	}
@@ -218,7 +231,7 @@ public abstract class AnnotationUtils {
 		}
 		catch (Exception ex) {
 			// Assuming nested Class values not resolvable within annotation attributes...
-			logIntrospectionFailure(method, ex);
+			handleIntrospectionFailure(method, ex);
 		}
 		return null;
 	}
@@ -274,7 +287,7 @@ public abstract class AnnotationUtils {
 		}
 		catch (Exception ex) {
 			// Assuming nested Class values not resolvable within annotation attributes...
-			logIntrospectionFailure(annotatedElement, ex);
+			handleIntrospectionFailure(annotatedElement, ex);
 		}
 		return Collections.emptySet();
 	}
@@ -298,7 +311,8 @@ public abstract class AnnotationUtils {
 	public static <A extends Annotation> A findAnnotation(AnnotatedElement annotatedElement, Class<A> annotationType) {
 		// Do NOT store result in the findAnnotationCache since doing so could break
 		// findAnnotation(Class, Class) and findAnnotation(Method, Class).
-		return findAnnotation(annotatedElement, annotationType, new HashSet<Annotation>());
+		return synthesizeAnnotation(annotatedElement,
+			findAnnotation(annotatedElement, annotationType, new HashSet<Annotation>()));
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -332,7 +346,7 @@ public abstract class AnnotationUtils {
 		}
 		catch (Exception ex) {
 			// Assuming nested Class values not resolvable within annotation attributes...
-			logIntrospectionFailure(annotatedElement, ex);
+			handleIntrospectionFailure(annotatedElement, ex);
 		}
 		return null;
 	}
@@ -389,7 +403,7 @@ public abstract class AnnotationUtils {
 			}
 		}
 
-		return result;
+		return synthesizeAnnotation(method, result);
 	}
 
 	private static <A extends Annotation> A searchOnInterfaces(Method method, Class<A> annotationType, Class<?>... ifcs) {
@@ -426,7 +440,7 @@ public abstract class AnnotationUtils {
 			}
 			catch (Exception ex) {
 				// Assuming nested Class values not resolvable within annotation attributes...
-				logIntrospectionFailure(ifcMethod, ex);
+				handleIntrospectionFailure(ifcMethod, ex);
 			}
 		}
 		annotatedInterfaceCache.put(iface, found);
@@ -465,7 +479,7 @@ public abstract class AnnotationUtils {
 				findAnnotationCache.put(cacheKey, result);
 			}
 		}
-		return result;
+		return synthesizeAnnotation(clazz, result);
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -499,7 +513,7 @@ public abstract class AnnotationUtils {
 		}
 		catch (Exception ex) {
 			// Assuming nested Class values not resolvable within annotation attributes...
-			logIntrospectionFailure(clazz, ex);
+			handleIntrospectionFailure(clazz, ex);
 			return null;
 		}
 
@@ -617,7 +631,7 @@ public abstract class AnnotationUtils {
 		}
 		catch (Exception ex) {
 			// Assuming nested Class values not resolvable within annotation attributes...
-			logIntrospectionFailure(clazz, ex);
+			handleIntrospectionFailure(clazz, ex);
 		}
 		return false;
 	}
@@ -682,9 +696,10 @@ public abstract class AnnotationUtils {
 	 * @return the Map of annotation attributes, with attribute names as keys and
 	 * corresponding attribute values as values; never {@code null}
 	 * @see #getAnnotationAttributes(Annotation, boolean, boolean)
+	 * @see #getAnnotationAttributes(AnnotatedElement, Annotation, boolean, boolean)
 	 */
 	public static Map<String, Object> getAnnotationAttributes(Annotation annotation) {
-		return getAnnotationAttributes(annotation, false, false);
+		return getAnnotationAttributes(null, annotation);
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -706,8 +721,7 @@ public abstract class AnnotationUtils {
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Retrieve the given annotation's attributes as an {@link AnnotationAttributes}
-	 * map structure.
+	 * Retrieve the given annotation's attributes as an {@link AnnotationAttributes} map.
 	 * <p>This method provides fully recursive annotation reading capabilities on par with
 	 * the reflection-based {@link org.springframework.core.type.StandardAnnotationMetadata}.
 	 * @param annotation the annotation to retrieve the attributes for
@@ -724,19 +738,106 @@ public abstract class AnnotationUtils {
 	 */
 	public static AnnotationAttributes getAnnotationAttributes(Annotation annotation, boolean classValuesAsString,
 			boolean nestedAnnotationsAsMap) {
+		return getAnnotationAttributes(null, annotation, classValuesAsString, nestedAnnotationsAsMap);
+	}
 
-		AnnotationAttributes attrs = new AnnotationAttributes();
-		Method[] methods = annotation.annotationType().getDeclaredMethods();
-		for (Method method : methods) {
-			if (method.getParameterTypes().length == 0 && method.getReturnType() != void.class) {
-				try {
-					ReflectionUtils.makeAccessible(method);
-					Object value = method.invoke(annotation);
-					attrs.put(method.getName(), adaptValue(value, classValuesAsString, nestedAnnotationsAsMap));
+	/**
+	 * Retrieve the given annotation's attributes as an {@link AnnotationAttributes} map.
+	 * <p>Equivalent to calling {@link #getAnnotationAttributes(AnnotatedElement, Annotation, boolean, boolean)}
+	 * with the {@code classValuesAsString} and {@code nestedAnnotationsAsMap} parameters
+	 * set to {@code false}.
+	 * @param annotation the annotation to retrieve the attributes for
+	 * @return the Map of annotation attributes, with attribute names as keys and
+	 * corresponding attribute values as values; never {@code null}
+	 * @see #getAnnotationAttributes(AnnotatedElement, Annotation, boolean, boolean)
+	 * @since 4.2
+	 */
+	public static AnnotationAttributes getAnnotationAttributes(AnnotatedElement annotatedElement, Annotation annotation) {
+		return getAnnotationAttributes(annotatedElement, annotation, false, false);
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Retrieve the given annotation's attributes as an {@link AnnotationAttributes} map.
+	 * <p>This method provides fully recursive annotation reading capabilities on par with
+	 * the reflection-based {@link org.springframework.core.type.StandardAnnotationMetadata}.
+	 * @param annotatedElement the element that is annotated with the supplied annotation,
+	 * used for contextual logging; may be {@code null} if unknown
+	 * @param annotation the annotation to retrieve the attributes for
+	 * @param classValuesAsString whether to convert Class references into Strings (for
+	 * compatibility with {@link org.springframework.core.type.AnnotationMetadata})
+	 * or to preserve them as Class references
+	 * @param nestedAnnotationsAsMap whether to convert nested Annotation instances into
+	 * {@link AnnotationAttributes} maps (for compatibility with
+	 * {@link org.springframework.core.type.AnnotationMetadata}) or to preserve them as
+	 * Annotation instances
+	 * @param defaultValuesAsPlaceholder whether to replace default values with
+	 * {@link #DEFAULT_VALUE_PLACEHOLDER} or leave them as is
+	 * @return the annotation attributes (a specialized Map) with attribute names as keys
+	 * and corresponding attribute values as values; never {@code null}
+	 * @since 4.2
+	 */
+	public static AnnotationAttributes getAnnotationAttributes(AnnotatedElement annotatedElement,
+			Annotation annotation, boolean classValuesAsString, boolean nestedAnnotationsAsMap) {
+
+		return getAnnotationAttributes(annotatedElement, annotation, classValuesAsString, nestedAnnotationsAsMap,
+			false, true);
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Retrieve the given annotation's attributes as an {@link AnnotationAttributes} map.
+	 *
+	 * <p>This method provides fully recursive annotation reading capabilities on par with
+	 * the reflection-based {@link org.springframework.core.type.StandardAnnotationMetadata}.
+	 *
+	 * @param annotatedElement the element that is annotated with the supplied annotation,
+	 * used for contextual logging; may be {@code null} if unknown
+	 * @param annotation the annotation to retrieve the attributes for
+	 * @param classValuesAsString whether to convert Class references into Strings (for
+	 * compatibility with {@link org.springframework.core.type.AnnotationMetadata})
+	 * or to preserve them as Class references
+	 * @param nestedAnnotationsAsMap whether to convert nested Annotation instances into
+	 * {@link AnnotationAttributes} maps (for compatibility with
+	 * {@link org.springframework.core.type.AnnotationMetadata}) or to preserve them as
+	 * Annotation instances
+	 * @param defaultValuesAsPlaceholder whether to replace default values with
+	 * {@link #DEFAULT_VALUE_PLACEHOLDER} or leave them as is
+	 * @param synthesizeAnnotation whether or not the annotation should be
+	 * {@linkplain #synthesizeAnnotation synthesized} before processing
+	 * @return the annotation attributes (a specialized Map) with attribute names as keys
+	 * and corresponding attribute values as values; never {@code null}
+	 * @since 4.2
+	 */
+	static AnnotationAttributes getAnnotationAttributes(AnnotatedElement annotatedElement,
+			Annotation annotation, boolean classValuesAsString, boolean nestedAnnotationsAsMap,
+			boolean defaultValuesAsPlaceholder, boolean synthesizeAnnotation) {
+
+		if (synthesizeAnnotation) {
+			annotation = synthesizeAnnotation(annotatedElement, annotation);
+		}
+
+		Class<? extends Annotation> annotationType = annotation.annotationType();
+		AnnotationAttributes attrs = new AnnotationAttributes(annotationType);
+		for (Method method : getAttributeMethods(annotationType)) {
+			try {
+				ReflectionUtils.makeAccessible(method);
+				Object value = method.invoke(annotation);
+
+				Object defaultValue = method.getDefaultValue();
+				if (defaultValuesAsPlaceholder && (defaultValue != null)) {
+					if (ObjectUtils.nullSafeEquals(value, defaultValue)) {
+						value = DEFAULT_VALUE_PLACEHOLDER;
+					}
 				}
-				catch (Exception ex) {
-					throw new IllegalStateException("Could not obtain annotation attribute values", ex);
+
+				attrs.put(method.getName(),
+					adaptValue(annotatedElement, value, classValuesAsString, nestedAnnotationsAsMap));
+			}
+			catch (Exception ex) {
+				if (ex instanceof InvocationTargetException) {
+					Throwable targetException = ((InvocationTargetException) ex).getTargetException();
+					rethrowAnnotationConfigurationException(targetException);
 				}
+				throw new IllegalStateException("Could not obtain annotation attribute value for " + method, ex);
 			}
 		}
 		return attrs;
@@ -744,6 +845,10 @@ public abstract class AnnotationUtils {
 
 	/**
 	 * Adapt the given value according to the given class and nested annotation settings.
+	 * <p>Nested annotations will be
+	 * {@linkplain #synthesizeAnnotation(AnnotatedElement, Annotation) synthesized}.
+	 * @param annotatedElement the element that is annotated, used for contextual
+	 * logging; may be {@code null} if unknown
 	 * @param value the annotation attribute value
 	 * @param classValuesAsString whether to turn Class references into Strings (for
 	 * compatibility with {@link org.springframework.core.type.AnnotationMetadata})
@@ -754,34 +859,57 @@ public abstract class AnnotationUtils {
 	 * Annotation instances
 	 * @return the adapted value, or the original value if no adaptation is needed
 	 */
-	static Object adaptValue(Object value, boolean classValuesAsString, boolean nestedAnnotationsAsMap) {
+	static Object adaptValue(AnnotatedElement annotatedElement, Object value, boolean classValuesAsString,
+			boolean nestedAnnotationsAsMap) {
+
 		if (classValuesAsString) {
 			if (value instanceof Class) {
-				value = ((Class<?>) value).getName();
+				return ((Class<?>) value).getName();
 			}
 			else if (value instanceof Class[]) {
 				Class<?>[] clazzArray = (Class<?>[]) value;
-				String[] newValue = new String[clazzArray.length];
+				String[] classNames = new String[clazzArray.length];
 				for (int i = 0; i < clazzArray.length; i++) {
-					newValue[i] = clazzArray[i].getName();
+					classNames[i] = clazzArray[i].getName();
 				}
-				value = newValue;
+				return classNames;
 			}
 		}
-		if (nestedAnnotationsAsMap && value instanceof Annotation) {
-			return getAnnotationAttributes((Annotation) value, classValuesAsString, true);
-		}
-		else if (nestedAnnotationsAsMap && value instanceof Annotation[]) {
-			Annotation[] realAnnotations = (Annotation[]) value;
-			AnnotationAttributes[] mappedAnnotations = new AnnotationAttributes[realAnnotations.length];
-			for (int i = 0; i < realAnnotations.length; i++) {
-				mappedAnnotations[i] = getAnnotationAttributes(realAnnotations[i], classValuesAsString, true);
+
+		if (value instanceof Annotation) {
+			Annotation annotation = (Annotation) value;
+
+			if (nestedAnnotationsAsMap) {
+				return getAnnotationAttributes(annotatedElement, annotation, classValuesAsString,
+					nestedAnnotationsAsMap);
+			}
+			else {
+				return synthesizeAnnotation(annotatedElement, annotation);
 			}
-			return mappedAnnotations;
 		}
-		else {
-			return value;
+
+		if (value instanceof Annotation[]) {
+			Annotation[] annotations = (Annotation[]) value;
+
+			if (nestedAnnotationsAsMap) {
+				AnnotationAttributes[] mappedAnnotations = new AnnotationAttributes[annotations.length];
+				for (int i = 0; i < annotations.length; i++) {
+					mappedAnnotations[i] = getAnnotationAttributes(annotatedElement, annotations[i],
+						classValuesAsString, nestedAnnotationsAsMap);
+				}
+				return mappedAnnotations;
+			}
+			else {
+				Annotation[] synthesizedAnnotations = new Annotation[annotations.length];
+				for (int i = 0; i < annotations.length; i++) {
+					synthesizedAnnotations[i] = synthesizeAnnotation(annotatedElement, annotations[i]);
+				}
+				return synthesizedAnnotations;
+			}
 		}
+
+		// Fallback
+		return value;
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -803,7 +931,7 @@ public abstract class AnnotationUtils {
 	 * @see #getValue(Annotation)
 	 */
 	public static Object getValue(Annotation annotation, String attributeName) {
-		if (annotation == null || !StringUtils.hasLength(attributeName)) {
+		if (annotation == null || !StringUtils.hasText(attributeName)) {
 			return null;
 		}
 		try {
@@ -861,7 +989,7 @@ public abstract class AnnotationUtils {
 	 * @see #getDefaultValue(Annotation, String)
 	 */
 	public static Object getDefaultValue(Class<? extends Annotation> annotationType, String attributeName) {
-		if (annotationType == null || !StringUtils.hasLength(attributeName)) {
+		if (annotationType == null || !StringUtils.hasText(attributeName)) {
 			return null;
 		}
 		try {
@@ -872,14 +1000,343 @@ public abstract class AnnotationUtils {
 		}
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * TODO Document synthesizeAnnotation().
+	 *
+	 * @param annotation the annotation to synthesize
+	 * @since 4.2
+	 * @see #synthesizeAnnotation(AnnotatedElement, Annotation)
+	 */
+	public static <A extends Annotation> A synthesizeAnnotation(A annotation) {
+		return synthesizeAnnotation(null, annotation);
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * TODO Document synthesizeAnnotation().
+	 *
+	 * @param annotatedElement the element that is annotated with the supplied
+	 * annotation, used for contextual logging; may be {@code null} if unknown
+	 * @param annotation the annotation to synthesize
+	 * @since 4.2
+	 */
+	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+	public static <A extends Annotation> A synthesizeAnnotation(AnnotatedElement annotatedElement, A annotation) {
+		if (annotation == null) {
+			return null;
+		}
+		if (annotation instanceof SynthesizedAnnotation) {
+			return annotation;
+		}
+
+		Class<? extends Annotation> annotationType = annotation.annotationType();
+
+		// No need to synthesize?
+		if (!isSynthesizable(annotationType)) {
+			return annotation;
+		}
+
+		InvocationHandler handler = new SynthesizedAnnotationInvocationHandler(annotatedElement, annotation, getAliasMap(annotationType));
+		A synthesizedAnnotation = (A) Proxy.newProxyInstance(ClassUtils.getDefaultClassLoader(), new Class<?>[] {
+			(Class<A>) annotationType, SynthesizedAnnotation.class }, handler);
+
+		return synthesizedAnnotation;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * TODO Document getAliasMap().
+	 * @since 4.2
+	 */
+	private static Map<String, String> getAliasMap(Class<? extends Annotation> annotationType) {
+		if (annotationType == null) {
+			return null;
+		}
+
+		Map<String, String> map = new HashMap<String, String>();
+		for (Method attribute : getAttributeMethods(annotationType)) {
+			String attributeName = attribute.getName();
+			String aliasedAttributeName = getAliasedAttributeName(attribute);
+			if (aliasedAttributeName != null) {
+				map.put(attributeName, aliasedAttributeName);
+			}
+		}
+		return map;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * TODO Document isSynthesizable().
+	 * @since 4.2
+	 */
+	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+	private static boolean isSynthesizable(Class<? extends Annotation> annotationType) {
+
+		for (Method attribute : getAttributeMethods(annotationType)) {
+			if (getAliasedAttributeName(attribute) != null) {
+				return true;
+			}
+
+			Class<?> returnType = attribute.getReturnType();
+
+			if (Annotation[].class.isAssignableFrom(returnType)) {
+				Class<? extends Annotation> nestedAnnotationType = (Class<? extends Annotation>) returnType.getComponentType();
+				if (isSynthesizable(nestedAnnotationType)) {
+					return true;
+				}
+			}
+			else if (Annotation.class.isAssignableFrom(returnType)) {
+				Class<? extends Annotation> nestedAnnotationType = (Class<? extends Annotation>) returnType;
+				if (isSynthesizable(nestedAnnotationType)) {
+					return true;
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+		return false;
+	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Log an introspection failure (in particular {@code TypeNotPresentExceptions}) -
-	 * before moving on, pretending there were no annotations on this specific element.
+	 * Get the name of the aliased attribute configured via
+	 * {@link AliasFor @AliasFor} on the supplied annotation {@code attribute}.
+	 *
+	 * <p>This method does not resolve aliases in other annotations. In
+	 * other words, if {@code @AliasFor} is present on the supplied
+	 * {@code attribute} but {@linkplain AliasFor#annotation references an
+	 * annotation} other than {@link Annotation}, this method will return
+	 * {@code null} immediately.
+	 *
+	 * @param attribute the attribute to find an alias for
+	 * @return the name of the aliased attribute, or {@code null} if not found
+	 * @throws IllegalArgumentException if the supplied attribute method is
+	 * not from an annotation, or if the supplied target type is {@link Annotation}
+	 * @throws AnnotationConfigurationException if invalid configuration of
+	 * {@code @AliasFor} is detected
+	 * @see #getAliasedAttributeName(Method, Class)
+	 * @since 4.2
+	 */
+	static String getAliasedAttributeName(Method attribute) {
+		return getAliasedAttributeName(attribute, null);
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Get the name of the aliased attribute configured via
+	 * {@link AliasFor @AliasFor} on the supplied annotation {@code attribute}.
+	 *
+	 * @param attribute the attribute to find an alias for
+	 * @param targetAnnotationType the type of annotation in which the
+	 * aliased attribute is allowed to be declared; {@code null} implies
+	 * <em>within the same annotation</em>
+	 * @return the name of the aliased attribute, or {@code null} if not found
+	 * @throws IllegalArgumentException if the supplied attribute method is
+	 * not from an annotation, or if the supplied target type is {@link Annotation}
+	 * @throws AnnotationConfigurationException if invalid configuration of
+	 * {@code @AliasFor} is detected
+	 * @since 4.2
+	 */
+	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+	static String getAliasedAttributeName(Method attribute, Class<? extends Annotation> targetAnnotationType) {
+		Class<?> declaringClass = attribute.getDeclaringClass();
+		Assert.isTrue(declaringClass.isAnnotation(), "attribute method must be from an annotation");
+		Assert.isTrue(!Annotation.class.equals(targetAnnotationType),
+			"targetAnnotationType must not be java.lang.annotation.Annotation");
+
+		AliasFor aliasFor = attribute.getAnnotation(AliasFor.class);
+
+		// Nothing to check
+		if (aliasFor == null) {
+			return null;
+		}
+
+		Class<? extends Annotation> sourceAnnotationType = (Class<? extends Annotation>) declaringClass;
+		Class<? extends Annotation> aliasedAnnotationType = aliasFor.annotation();
+
+		boolean searchWithinSameAnnotation = (targetAnnotationType == null);
+		boolean sameTargetDeclared = (sourceAnnotationType.equals(aliasedAnnotationType) || Annotation.class.equals(aliasedAnnotationType));
+
+		// Wrong search scope?
+		if (searchWithinSameAnnotation && !sameTargetDeclared) {
+			return null;
+		}
+
+		String attributeName = attribute.getName();
+		String aliasedAttributeName = aliasFor.attribute();
+
+		if (!StringUtils.hasText(aliasedAttributeName)) {
+			String msg = String.format(
+				"@AliasFor declaration on attribute [%s] in annotation [%s] is missing required 'attribute' value.",
+				attributeName, sourceAnnotationType.getName());
+			throw new AnnotationConfigurationException(msg);
+		}
+
+		if (sameTargetDeclared) {
+			aliasedAnnotationType = sourceAnnotationType;
+		}
+
+		Method aliasedAttribute = null;
+		try {
+			aliasedAttribute = aliasedAnnotationType.getDeclaredMethod(aliasedAttributeName);
+		}
+		catch (NoSuchMethodException e) {
+			String msg = String.format(
+				"Attribute [%s] in annotation [%s] is declared as an @AliasFor nonexistent attribute [%s] in annotation [%s].",
+				attributeName, sourceAnnotationType.getName(), aliasedAttributeName, aliasedAnnotationType.getName());
+			throw new AnnotationConfigurationException(msg, e);
+		}
+
+		if (sameTargetDeclared) {
+			AliasFor mirrorAliasFor = aliasedAttribute.getAnnotation(AliasFor.class);
+			if (mirrorAliasFor == null) {
+				String msg = String.format("Attribute [%s] in annotation [%s] must be declared as an @AliasFor [%s].",
+					aliasedAttributeName, sourceAnnotationType.getName(), attributeName);
+				throw new AnnotationConfigurationException(msg);
+			}
+
+			String mirrorAliasedAttributeName = mirrorAliasFor.attribute();
+			if (!attributeName.equals(mirrorAliasedAttributeName)) {
+				String msg = String.format(
+					"Attribute [%s] in annotation [%s] must be declared as an @AliasFor [%s], not [%s].",
+					aliasedAttributeName, sourceAnnotationType.getName(), attributeName, mirrorAliasedAttributeName);
+				throw new AnnotationConfigurationException(msg);
+			}
+		}
+
+		Class<?> returnType = attribute.getReturnType();
+		Class<?> aliasedReturnType = aliasedAttribute.getReturnType();
+		if (!returnType.equals(aliasedReturnType)) {
+			String msg = String.format("Misconfigured aliases: attribute [%s] in annotation [%s] "
+					+ "and attribute [%s] in annotation [%s] must declare the same return type.", attributeName,
+				sourceAnnotationType.getName(), aliasedAttributeName, aliasedAnnotationType.getName());
+			throw new AnnotationConfigurationException(msg);
+		}
+
+		if (sameTargetDeclared) {
+			Object defaultValue = attribute.getDefaultValue();
+			Object aliasedDefaultValue = aliasedAttribute.getDefaultValue();
+
+			if ((defaultValue == null) || (aliasedDefaultValue == null)) {
+				String msg = String.format("Misconfigured aliases: attribute [%s] in annotation [%s] "
+						+ "and attribute [%s] in annotation [%s] must declare default values.", attributeName,
+					sourceAnnotationType.getName(), aliasedAttributeName, aliasedAnnotationType.getName());
+				throw new AnnotationConfigurationException(msg);
+			}
+
+			if (!ObjectUtils.nullSafeEquals(defaultValue, aliasedDefaultValue)) {
+				String msg = String.format("Misconfigured aliases: attribute [%s] in annotation [%s] "
+						+ "and attribute [%s] in annotation [%s] must declare the same default value.", attributeName,
+					sourceAnnotationType.getName(), aliasedAttributeName, aliasedAnnotationType.getName());
+				throw new AnnotationConfigurationException(msg);
+			}
+		}
+
+		return aliasedAttributeName;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * TODO Document getAttributeMethods().
+	 *
+	 * @since 4.2
+	 */
+	static List<Method> getAttributeMethods(Class<? extends Annotation> annotationType) {
+		List<Method> methods = new ArrayList<Method>();
+		for (Method method : annotationType.getDeclaredMethods()) {
+			if ((method.getParameterTypes().length == 0) && (method.getReturnType() != void.class)) {
+				methods.add(method);
+			}
+		}
+		return methods;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * TODO Document postProcessAnnotationAttributes().
+	 *
+	 * @param annotatedElement the element that is annotated with the supplied
+	 * annotation, used for contextual logging; may be {@code null} if unknown
+	 * @param attributes the annotation attributes to validate
+	 * @since 4.2
+	 */
+	static void postProcessAnnotationAttributes(AnnotatedElement element, AnnotationAttributes attributes,
+			boolean classValuesAsString, boolean nestedAnnotationsAsMap) {
+
+		// Abort?
+		if (attributes == null) {
+			return;
+		}
+
+		Class<? extends Annotation> annotationType = attributes.annotationType();
+		Map<String, String> aliasMap = getAliasMap(annotationType);
+
+		// Validate @AliasFor configuration
+		if (aliasMap != null) {
+			Set<String> validated = new HashSet<String>();
+
+			for (String attributeName : aliasMap.keySet()) {
+				String aliasedAttributeName = aliasMap.get(attributeName);
+
+				if (validated.add(attributeName) && validated.add(aliasedAttributeName)) {
+					Object value = attributes.get(attributeName);
+					Object aliasedValue = attributes.get(aliasedAttributeName);
+
+					if (!ObjectUtils.nullSafeEquals(value, aliasedValue) && !DEFAULT_VALUE_PLACEHOLDER.equals(value)
+							&& !DEFAULT_VALUE_PLACEHOLDER.equals(aliasedValue)) {
+						String elementAsString = (element == null ? "unknown element" : element.toString());
+						String msg = String.format(
+							"In AnnotationAttributes for annotation [%s] declared on [%s], attribute [%s] and its alias [%s] are "
+									+ "declared with values of [%s] and [%s], but only one declaration is permitted.",
+							annotationType.getName(), elementAsString, attributeName, aliasedAttributeName,
+							ObjectUtils.nullSafeToString(value), ObjectUtils.nullSafeToString(aliasedValue));
+						throw new AnnotationConfigurationException(msg);
+					}
+
+					// Replace default values with aliased values...
+					if (DEFAULT_VALUE_PLACEHOLDER.equals(value)) {
+						attributes.put(attributeName,
+							adaptValue(element, aliasedValue, classValuesAsString, nestedAnnotationsAsMap));
+					}
+					if (DEFAULT_VALUE_PLACEHOLDER.equals(aliasedValue)) {
+						attributes.put(aliasedAttributeName,
+							adaptValue(element, value, classValuesAsString, nestedAnnotationsAsMap));
+					}
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+		for (String attributeName : attributes.keySet()) {
+			Object value = attributes.get(attributeName);
+			if (DEFAULT_VALUE_PLACEHOLDER.equals(value)) {
+				attributes.put(attributeName,
+					adaptValue(element, getDefaultValue(annotationType, attributeName), classValuesAsString,
+						nestedAnnotationsAsMap));
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * <p>If the supplied throwable is an {@link AnnotationConfigurationException},
+	 * it will be cast to an {@code AnnotationConfigurationException} and thrown,
+	 * allowing it to propagate to the caller.
+	 * <p>Otherwise, this method does nothing.
+	 * @since 4.2
+	 */
+	static void rethrowAnnotationConfigurationException(Throwable t) {
+		if (t instanceof AnnotationConfigurationException) {
+			throw (AnnotationConfigurationException) t;
+		}
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Handle the supplied annotation introspection exception.
+	 * <p>If the supplied exception is an {@link AnnotationConfigurationException},
+	 * it will simply be thrown, allowing it to propagate to the caller, and
+	 * nothing will be logged.
+	 * <p>Otherwise, this method logs an introspection failure (in particular
+	 * {@code TypeNotPresentExceptions}) &mdash; before moving on, pretending
+	 * there were no annotations on this specific element.
 	 * @param element the element that we tried to introspect annotations on
 	 * @param ex the exception that we encountered
+	 * @see #rethrowAnnotationConfigurationException
 	 */
-	static void logIntrospectionFailure(AnnotatedElement element, Exception ex) {
+	static void handleIntrospectionFailure(AnnotatedElement element, Exception ex) {
+
+		rethrowAnnotationConfigurationException(ex);
+
 		Log loggerToUse = logger;
 		if (loggerToUse == null) {
 			loggerToUse = LogFactory.getLog(AnnotationUtils.class);
@@ -896,7 +1353,6 @@ public abstract class AnnotationUtils {
 			if (loggerToUse.isInfoEnabled()) {
 				logger.info("Failed to introspect annotations on [" + element + "]: " + ex);
 			}
-
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -962,10 +1418,10 @@ public abstract class AnnotationUtils {
 					for (Annotation ann : element.getAnnotations()) {
 						Class<? extends Annotation> currentAnnotationType = ann.annotationType();
 						if (ObjectUtils.nullSafeEquals(this.annotationType, currentAnnotationType)) {
-							this.result.add((A) ann);
+							this.result.add(synthesizeAnnotation(element, (A) ann));
 						}
 						else if (ObjectUtils.nullSafeEquals(this.containerAnnotationType, currentAnnotationType)) {
-							this.result.addAll(getValue(ann));
+							this.result.addAll(getValue(element, ann));
 						}
 						else if (!isInJavaLangAnnotationPackage(ann)) {
 							process(currentAnnotationType);
@@ -973,17 +1429,23 @@ public abstract class AnnotationUtils {
 					}
 				}
 				catch (Exception ex) {
-					logIntrospectionFailure(element, ex);
+					handleIntrospectionFailure(element, ex);
 				}
 			}
 		}
 
 		@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-		private List<A> getValue(Annotation annotation) {
+		private List<A> getValue(AnnotatedElement element, Annotation annotation) {
 			try {
 				Method method = annotation.annotationType().getDeclaredMethod("value");
 				ReflectionUtils.makeAccessible(method);
-				return Arrays.asList((A[]) method.invoke(annotation));
+				A[] annotations = (A[]) method.invoke(annotation);
+
+				List<A> synthesizedAnnotations = new ArrayList<A>();
+				for (A anno : annotations) {
+					synthesizedAnnotations.add(synthesizeAnnotation(element, anno));
+				}
+				return synthesizedAnnotations;
 			}
 			catch (Exception ex) {
 				// Unable to read value from repeating annotation container -> ignore it.

spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/annotation/SynthesizedAnnotation.java

@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2002-2015 the original author or authors.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.springframework.core.annotation;
+
+/**
+ * Marker interface implemented by synthesized annotation proxies.
+ *
+ * <p>Used to detect whether an annotation has already been synthesized.
+ *
+ * @author Sam Brannen
+ * @since 4.2
+ */
+interface SynthesizedAnnotation {
+}

spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/annotation/SynthesizedAnnotationInvocationHandler.java

@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2002-2015 the original author or authors.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.springframework.core.annotation;
+
+import java.lang.annotation.Annotation;
+import java.lang.reflect.AnnotatedElement;
+import java.lang.reflect.InvocationHandler;
+import java.lang.reflect.Method;
+import java.util.Map;
+
+import org.springframework.util.ObjectUtils;
+import org.springframework.util.ReflectionUtils;
+
+/**
+ * TODO Document SynthesizedAnnotationInvocationHandler.
+ *
+ * @author Sam Brannen
+ * @since 4.2
+ */
+class SynthesizedAnnotationInvocationHandler implements InvocationHandler {
+
+	private final AnnotatedElement annotatedElement;
+
+	private final Annotation annotation;
+
+	private final Map<String, String> aliasPairs;
+
+
+	public SynthesizedAnnotationInvocationHandler(Annotation annotation, Map<String, String> aliasPairs) {
+		this(null, annotation, aliasPairs);
+	}
+
+	public SynthesizedAnnotationInvocationHandler(AnnotatedElement annotatedElement, Annotation annotation,
+			Map<String, String> aliasPairs) {
+		this.annotatedElement = annotatedElement;
+		this.annotation = annotation;
+		this.aliasPairs = aliasPairs;
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public Object invoke(Object proxy, Method method, Object[] args) throws Throwable {
+		String attributeName = method.getName();
+		Class<?> returnType = method.getReturnType();
+		boolean nestedAnnotation = (Annotation[].class.isAssignableFrom(returnType) || Annotation.class.isAssignableFrom(returnType));
+		String aliasedAttributeName = aliasPairs.get(attributeName);
+		boolean aliasPresent = aliasedAttributeName != null;
+
+		ReflectionUtils.makeAccessible(method);
+		Object value = ReflectionUtils.invokeMethod(method, this.annotation, args);
+
+		// Nothing special to do?
+		if (!aliasPresent && !nestedAnnotation) {
+			return value;
+		}
+
+		if (aliasPresent) {
+			Method aliasedMethod = null;
+			try {
+				aliasedMethod = annotation.annotationType().getDeclaredMethod(aliasedAttributeName);
+			}
+			catch (NoSuchMethodException e) {
+				String msg = String.format("In annotation [%s], attribute [%s] is declared as an @AliasFor [%s], "
+						+ "but attribute [%s] does not exist.", annotation.annotationType().getName(), attributeName,
+					aliasedAttributeName, aliasedAttributeName);
+				throw new AnnotationConfigurationException(msg);
+			}
+
+			ReflectionUtils.makeAccessible(aliasedMethod);
+			Object aliasedValue = ReflectionUtils.invokeMethod(aliasedMethod, this.annotation, args);
+			Object defaultValue = AnnotationUtils.getDefaultValue(annotation, attributeName);
+
+			if (!ObjectUtils.nullSafeEquals(value, aliasedValue) && !ObjectUtils.nullSafeEquals(value, defaultValue)
+					&& !ObjectUtils.nullSafeEquals(aliasedValue, defaultValue)) {
+				String elementAsString = (annotatedElement == null ? "unknown element" : annotatedElement.toString());
+				String msg = String.format(
+					"In annotation [%s] declared on [%s], attribute [%s] and its alias [%s] are "
+							+ "declared with values of [%s] and [%s], but only one declaration is permitted.",
+					annotation.annotationType().getName(), elementAsString, attributeName, aliasedAttributeName,
+					ObjectUtils.nullSafeToString(value), ObjectUtils.nullSafeToString(aliasedValue));
+				throw new AnnotationConfigurationException(msg);
+			}
+
+			// If the user didn't declare the annotation with an explicit value, return
+			// the value of the alias.
+			if (ObjectUtils.nullSafeEquals(value, defaultValue)) {
+				value = aliasedValue;
+			}
+		}
+
+		// Synthesize nested annotations before returning them.
+		if (value instanceof Annotation) {
+			value = AnnotationUtils.synthesizeAnnotation(annotatedElement, (Annotation) value);
+		}
+		else if (value instanceof Annotation[]) {
+			Annotation[] annotations = (Annotation[]) value;
+			for (int i = 0; i < annotations.length; i++) {
+				annotations[i] = AnnotationUtils.synthesizeAnnotation(annotatedElement, annotations[i]);
+			}
+		}
+
+		return value;
+	}
+
+}

spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/annotation/package-info.java

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 /**
- * Core support package for Java 5 annotations.
+ * Core support package for annotations, meta-annotations, and composed
+ * annotations with attribute overrides.
  */
 package org.springframework.core.annotation;

spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/core/annotation/AnnotatedElementUtilsTests.java

@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 
 package org.springframework.core.annotation;
 
-import java.lang.annotation.Documented;
 import java.lang.annotation.ElementType;
 import java.lang.annotation.Inherited;
 import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
@@ -26,11 +25,14 @@ import java.lang.reflect.Method;
 import java.util.Set;
 import java.util.stream.Collectors;
 
+import org.junit.Rule;
 import org.junit.Test;
-
+import org.junit.rules.ExpectedException;
 import org.springframework.stereotype.Component;
 import org.springframework.util.MultiValueMap;
 
+import static org.hamcrest.Matchers.*;
+
 import static java.util.Arrays.*;
 import static org.junit.Assert.*;
 import static org.springframework.core.annotation.AnnotatedElementUtils.*;
@@ -46,9 +48,8 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtilsTests {
 
 	private static final String TX_NAME = Transactional.class.getName();
 
-	private Set<String> names(Class<?>... classes) {
-		return stream(classes).map(clazz -> clazz.getName()).collect(Collectors.toSet());
-	}
+	@Rule
+	public final ExpectedException exception = ExpectedException.none();
 
 	@Test
 	public void getMetaAnnotationTypesOnNonAnnotatedClass() {
@@ -180,7 +181,8 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtilsTests {
 	public void getAllAnnotationAttributesOnClassWithMultipleComposedAnnotations() {
 		MultiValueMap<String, Object> attributes = getAllAnnotationAttributes(TxFromMultipleComposedAnnotations.class, TX_NAME);
 		assertNotNull("Annotation attributes map for @Transactional on TxFromMultipleComposedAnnotations", attributes);
-		assertEquals("value for TxFromMultipleComposedAnnotations.", asList("TxComposed1", "TxComposed2"), attributes.get("value"));
+		assertEquals("value for TxFromMultipleComposedAnnotations.", asList("TxInheritedComposed", "TxComposed"),
+			attributes.get("value"));
 	}
 
 	@Test
@@ -274,6 +276,77 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtilsTests {
 		assertTrue(isAnnotated(element, name));
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	public void getAnnotationAttributesWithConventionBasedComposedAnnotation() {
+		Class<?> element = ConventionBasedComposedContextConfigClass.class;
+		String name = ContextConfig.class.getName();
+		AnnotationAttributes attributes = getAnnotationAttributes(element, name);
+
+		assertNotNull("Should find @ContextConfig on " + element.getSimpleName(), attributes);
+		assertArrayEquals("locations", new String[] { "explicitDeclaration" }, attributes.getStringArray("locations"));
+		assertArrayEquals("value", new String[] { "explicitDeclaration" }, attributes.getStringArray("value"));
+
+		// Verify contracts between utility methods:
+		assertTrue(isAnnotated(element, name));
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void getAnnotationAttributesWithAliasedComposedAnnotation() {
+		Class<?> element = AliasedComposedContextConfigClass.class;
+		String name = ContextConfig.class.getName();
+		AnnotationAttributes attributes = getAnnotationAttributes(element, name);
+
+		assertNotNull("Should find @ContextConfig on " + element.getSimpleName(), attributes);
+		assertArrayEquals("value", new String[] { "test.xml" }, attributes.getStringArray("value"));
+		assertArrayEquals("locations", new String[] { "test.xml" }, attributes.getStringArray("locations"));
+
+		// Verify contracts between utility methods:
+		assertTrue(isAnnotated(element, name));
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void getAnnotationAttributesWithAliasedValueComposedAnnotation() {
+		Class<?> element = AliasedValueComposedContextConfigClass.class;
+		String name = ContextConfig.class.getName();
+		AnnotationAttributes attributes = getAnnotationAttributes(element, name);
+
+		assertNotNull("Should find @ContextConfig on " + element.getSimpleName(), attributes);
+		assertArrayEquals("locations", new String[] { "test.xml" }, attributes.getStringArray("locations"));
+		assertArrayEquals("value", new String[] { "test.xml" }, attributes.getStringArray("value"));
+
+		// Verify contracts between utility methods:
+		assertTrue(isAnnotated(element, name));
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void getAnnotationAttributesWithInvalidConventionBasedComposedAnnotation() {
+		Class<?> element = InvalidConventionBasedComposedContextConfigClass.class;
+		String name = ContextConfig.class.getName();
+
+		exception.expect(AnnotationConfigurationException.class);
+		exception.expectMessage(either(containsString("attribute [value] and its alias [locations]")).or(
+			containsString("attribute [locations] and its alias [value]")));
+		exception.expectMessage(either(
+			containsString("values of [{duplicateDeclaration}] and [{requiredLocationsDeclaration}]")).or(
+			containsString("values of [{requiredLocationsDeclaration}] and [{duplicateDeclaration}]")));
+		exception.expectMessage(containsString("but only one declaration is permitted"));
+		getAnnotationAttributes(element, name);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void getAnnotationAttributesWithInvalidAliasedComposedAnnotation() {
+		Class<?> element = InvalidAliasedComposedContextConfigClass.class;
+		String name = ContextConfig.class.getName();
+
+		exception.expect(AnnotationConfigurationException.class);
+		exception.expectMessage(either(containsString("attribute [value] and its alias [locations]")).or(
+			containsString("attribute [locations] and its alias [value]")));
+		exception.expectMessage(either(containsString("values of [{duplicateDeclaration}] and [{test.xml}]")).or(
+			containsString("values of [{test.xml}] and [{duplicateDeclaration}]")));
+		exception.expectMessage(containsString("but only one declaration is permitted"));
+		getAnnotationAttributes(element, name);
+	}
+
 	@Test
 	public void findAnnotationAttributesOnInheritedAnnotationInterface() {
 		AnnotationAttributes attributes = findAnnotationAttributes(InheritedAnnotationInterface.class, Transactional.class);
@@ -375,27 +448,39 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtilsTests {
 		assertEquals("TX qualifier for MetaAndLocalTxConfigClass.", "localTxMgr", attributes.getString("qualifier"));
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	public void findAnnotationAttributesOnClassWithAttributeAliasesInTargetAnnotation() {
+		AnnotationAttributes attributes = findAnnotationAttributes(AliasedTransactionalComponentClass.class,
+			AliasedTransactional.class);
+		assertNotNull("Should find @AliasedTransactional on AliasedTransactionalComponentClass", attributes);
+		assertEquals("TX value for AliasedTransactionalComponentClass.", "aliasForQualifier",
+			attributes.getString("value"));
+		assertEquals("TX qualifier for AliasedTransactionalComponentClass.", "aliasForQualifier",
+			attributes.getString("qualifier"));
+	}
+
+	private Set<String> names(Class<?>... classes) {
+		return stream(classes).map(clazz -> clazz.getName()).collect(Collectors.toSet());
+	}
+
 
 	// -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 	@MetaCycle3
 	@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
 	@Target(ElementType.ANNOTATION_TYPE)
-	@Documented
 	@interface MetaCycle1 {
 	}
 
 	@MetaCycle1
 	@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
 	@Target(ElementType.ANNOTATION_TYPE)
-	@Documented
 	@interface MetaCycle2 {
 	}
 
 	@MetaCycle2
 	@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
 	@Target(ElementType.TYPE)
-	@Documented
 	@interface MetaCycle3 {
 	}
 
@@ -407,7 +492,6 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtilsTests {
 
 	@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
 	@Target({ ElementType.TYPE, ElementType.METHOD })
-	@Documented
 	@Inherited
 	@interface Transactional {
 
@@ -418,19 +502,29 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtilsTests {
 		boolean readOnly() default false;
 	}
 
+	@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
+	@Target({ ElementType.TYPE, ElementType.METHOD })
+	@Inherited
+	@interface AliasedTransactional {
+
+		@AliasFor(attribute = "qualifier")
+		String value() default "";
+
+		@AliasFor(attribute = "value")
+		String qualifier() default "";
+	}
+
 	@Transactional(qualifier = "composed1")
 	@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
 	@Target(ElementType.TYPE)
-	@Documented
 	@Inherited
-	@interface Composed1 {
+	@interface InheritedComposed {
 	}
 
 	@Transactional(qualifier = "composed2", readOnly = true)
 	@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
 	@Target(ElementType.TYPE)
-	@Documented
-	@interface Composed2 {
+	@interface Composed {
 	}
 
 	@Transactional
@@ -440,14 +534,14 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtilsTests {
 		String qualifier() default "txMgr";
 	}
 
-	@Transactional("TxComposed1")
+	@Transactional("TxInheritedComposed")
 	@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
-	@interface TxComposed1 {
+	@interface TxInheritedComposed {
 	}
 
-	@Transactional("TxComposed2")
+	@Transactional("TxComposed")
 	@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
-	@interface TxComposed2 {
+	@interface TxComposed {
 	}
 
 	@Transactional
@@ -461,6 +555,12 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtilsTests {
 	@interface ComposedTransactionalComponent {
 	}
 
+	@AliasedTransactional(value = "aliasForQualifier")
+	@Component
+	@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
+	@interface AliasedTransactionalComponent {
+	}
+
 	@TxComposedWithOverride
 	// Override default "txMgr" from @TxComposedWithOverride with "localTxMgr"
 	@Transactional(qualifier = "localTxMgr")
@@ -469,6 +569,63 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtilsTests {
 	@interface MetaAndLocalTxConfig {
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Mock of {@link org.springframework.test.context.ContextConfiguration}.
+	 */
+	@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
+	static @interface ContextConfig {
+
+		@AliasFor(attribute = "locations")
+		String[] value() default {};
+
+		@AliasFor(attribute = "value")
+		String[] locations() default {};
+	}
+
+	@ContextConfig
+	@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
+	static @interface ConventionBasedComposedContextConfig {
+
+		String[] locations() default {};
+	}
+
+	@ContextConfig(value = "duplicateDeclaration")
+	@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
+	static @interface InvalidConventionBasedComposedContextConfig {
+
+		String[] locations();
+	}
+
+	@ContextConfig
+	@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
+	static @interface AliasedComposedContextConfig {
+
+		@AliasFor(annotation = ContextConfig.class, attribute = "locations")
+		String[] xmlConfigFiles();
+	}
+
+	@ContextConfig
+	@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
+	static @interface AliasedValueComposedContextConfig {
+
+		@AliasFor(annotation = ContextConfig.class, attribute = "value")
+		String[] locations();
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Invalid because the configuration declares a value for 'value' and
+	 * requires a value for the aliased 'locations'. So we likely end up with
+	 * both 'value' and 'locations' being present in {@link AnnotationAttributes}
+	 * but with different values, which violates the contract of {@code @AliasFor}.
+	 */
+	@ContextConfig(value = "duplicateDeclaration")
+	@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
+	static @interface InvalidAliasedComposedContextConfig {
+
+		@AliasFor(annotation = ContextConfig.class, attribute = "locations")
+		String[] xmlConfigFiles();
+	}
+
 	// -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 	static class NonAnnotatedClass {
@@ -485,22 +642,26 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtilsTests {
 	static class ComposedTransactionalComponentClass {
 	}
 
+	@AliasedTransactionalComponent
+	static class AliasedTransactionalComponentClass {
+	}
+
 	@Transactional
 	static class ClassWithInheritedAnnotation {
 	}
 
-	@Composed2
+	@Composed
 	static class SubClassWithInheritedAnnotation extends ClassWithInheritedAnnotation {
 	}
 
 	static class SubSubClassWithInheritedAnnotation extends SubClassWithInheritedAnnotation {
 	}
 
-	@Composed1
+	@InheritedComposed
 	static class ClassWithInheritedComposedAnnotation {
 	}
 
-	@Composed2
+	@Composed
 	static class SubClassWithInheritedComposedAnnotation extends ClassWithInheritedComposedAnnotation {
 	}
 
@@ -519,8 +680,8 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtilsTests {
 	static class DerivedTxConfig extends TxConfig {
 	}
 
-	@TxComposed1
-	@TxComposed2
+	@TxInheritedComposed
+	@TxComposed
 	static class TxFromMultipleComposedAnnotations {
 	}
 
@@ -595,4 +756,23 @@ public class AnnotatedElementUtilsTests {
 	public static interface SubSubNonInheritedAnnotationInterface extends SubNonInheritedAnnotationInterface {
 	}
 
+	@ConventionBasedComposedContextConfig(locations = "explicitDeclaration")
+	static class ConventionBasedComposedContextConfigClass {
+	}
+
+	@InvalidConventionBasedComposedContextConfig(locations = "requiredLocationsDeclaration")
+	static class InvalidConventionBasedComposedContextConfigClass {
+	}
+
+	@AliasedComposedContextConfig(xmlConfigFiles = "test.xml")
+	static class AliasedComposedContextConfigClass {
+	}
+
+	@AliasedValueComposedContextConfig(locations = "test.xml")
+	static class AliasedValueComposedContextConfigClass {
+	}
+
+	@InvalidAliasedComposedContextConfig(xmlConfigFiles = "test.xml")
+	static class InvalidAliasedComposedContextConfigClass {
+	}
 }

spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/core/annotation/AnnotationUtilsTests.java

@@ -23,11 +23,13 @@ import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
 import java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy;
 import java.lang.reflect.Method;
 import java.util.Arrays;
-import java.util.HashSet;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Set;
+import java.util.stream.Collectors;
 
+import org.junit.Rule;
 import org.junit.Test;
+import org.junit.rules.ExpectedException;
 
 import org.springframework.core.Ordered;
 import org.springframework.core.annotation.subpackage.NonPublicAnnotatedClass;
@@ -48,6 +50,9 @@ import static org.springframework.core.annotation.AnnotationUtils.*;
  */
 public class AnnotationUtilsTests {
 
+	@Rule
+	public final ExpectedException exception = ExpectedException.none();
+
 	@Test
 	public void findMethodAnnotationOnLeaf() throws Exception {
 		Method m = Leaf.class.getMethod("annotatedOnLeaf");
@@ -154,7 +159,8 @@ public class AnnotationUtilsTests {
 	/** @since 4.1.2 */
 	@Test
 	public void findClassAnnotationFavorsMoreLocallyDeclaredComposedAnnotationsOverAnnotationsOnInterfaces() {
-		Component component = AnnotationUtils.findAnnotation(ClassWithLocalMetaAnnotationAndMetaAnnotatedInterface.class, Component.class);
+		Component component = findAnnotation(ClassWithLocalMetaAnnotationAndMetaAnnotatedInterface.class,
+			Component.class);
 		assertNotNull(component);
 		assertEquals("meta2", component.value());
 	}
@@ -162,7 +168,7 @@ public class AnnotationUtilsTests {
 	/** @since 4.0.3 */
 	@Test
 	public void findClassAnnotationFavorsMoreLocallyDeclaredComposedAnnotationsOverInheritedAnnotations() {
-		Transactional transactional = AnnotationUtils.findAnnotation(SubSubClassWithInheritedAnnotation.class, Transactional.class);
+		Transactional transactional = findAnnotation(SubSubClassWithInheritedAnnotation.class, Transactional.class);
 		assertNotNull(transactional);
 		assertTrue("readOnly flag for SubSubClassWithInheritedAnnotation", transactional.readOnly());
 	}
@@ -170,21 +176,21 @@ public class AnnotationUtilsTests {
 	/** @since 4.0.3 */
 	@Test
 	public void findClassAnnotationFavorsMoreLocallyDeclaredComposedAnnotationsOverInheritedComposedAnnotations() {
-		Component component = AnnotationUtils.findAnnotation(SubSubClassWithInheritedMetaAnnotation.class, Component.class);
+		Component component = findAnnotation(SubSubClassWithInheritedMetaAnnotation.class, Component.class);
 		assertNotNull(component);
 		assertEquals("meta2", component.value());
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void findClassAnnotationOnMetaMetaAnnotatedClass() {
-		Component component = AnnotationUtils.findAnnotation(MetaMetaAnnotatedClass.class, Component.class);
+		Component component = findAnnotation(MetaMetaAnnotatedClass.class, Component.class);
 		assertNotNull("Should find meta-annotation on composed annotation on class", component);
 		assertEquals("meta2", component.value());
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void findClassAnnotationOnMetaMetaMetaAnnotatedClass() {
-		Component component = AnnotationUtils.findAnnotation(MetaMetaMetaAnnotatedClass.class, Component.class);
+		Component component = findAnnotation(MetaMetaMetaAnnotatedClass.class, Component.class);
 		assertNotNull("Should find meta-annotation on meta-annotation on composed annotation on class", component);
 		assertEquals("meta2", component.value());
 	}
@@ -192,55 +198,55 @@ public class AnnotationUtilsTests {
 	@Test
 	public void findClassAnnotationOnAnnotatedClassWithMissingTargetMetaAnnotation() {
 		// TransactionalClass is NOT annotated or meta-annotated with @Component
-		Component component = AnnotationUtils.findAnnotation(TransactionalClass.class, Component.class);
+		Component component = findAnnotation(TransactionalClass.class, Component.class);
 		assertNull("Should not find @Component on TransactionalClass", component);
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void findClassAnnotationOnMetaCycleAnnotatedClassWithMissingTargetMetaAnnotation() {
-		Component component = AnnotationUtils.findAnnotation(MetaCycleAnnotatedClass.class, Component.class);
+		Component component = findAnnotation(MetaCycleAnnotatedClass.class, Component.class);
 		assertNull("Should not find @Component on MetaCycleAnnotatedClass", component);
 	}
 
 	/** @since 4.2 */
 	@Test
 	public void findClassAnnotationOnInheritedAnnotationInterface() {
-		Transactional tx = AnnotationUtils.findAnnotation(InheritedAnnotationInterface.class, Transactional.class);
+		Transactional tx = findAnnotation(InheritedAnnotationInterface.class, Transactional.class);
 		assertNotNull("Should find @Transactional on InheritedAnnotationInterface", tx);
 	}
 
 	/** @since 4.2 */
 	@Test
 	public void findClassAnnotationOnSubInheritedAnnotationInterface() {
-		Transactional tx = AnnotationUtils.findAnnotation(SubInheritedAnnotationInterface.class, Transactional.class);
+		Transactional tx = findAnnotation(SubInheritedAnnotationInterface.class, Transactional.class);
 		assertNotNull("Should find @Transactional on SubInheritedAnnotationInterface", tx);
 	}
 
 	/** @since 4.2 */
 	@Test
 	public void findClassAnnotationOnSubSubInheritedAnnotationInterface() {
-		Transactional tx = AnnotationUtils.findAnnotation(SubSubInheritedAnnotationInterface.class, Transactional.class);
+		Transactional tx = findAnnotation(SubSubInheritedAnnotationInterface.class, Transactional.class);
 		assertNotNull("Should find @Transactional on SubSubInheritedAnnotationInterface", tx);
 	}
 
 	/** @since 4.2 */
 	@Test
 	public void findClassAnnotationOnNonInheritedAnnotationInterface() {
-		Order order = AnnotationUtils.findAnnotation(NonInheritedAnnotationInterface.class, Order.class);
+		Order order = findAnnotation(NonInheritedAnnotationInterface.class, Order.class);
 		assertNotNull("Should find @Order on NonInheritedAnnotationInterface", order);
 	}
 
 	/** @since 4.2 */
 	@Test
 	public void findClassAnnotationOnSubNonInheritedAnnotationInterface() {
-		Order order = AnnotationUtils.findAnnotation(SubNonInheritedAnnotationInterface.class, Order.class);
+		Order order = findAnnotation(SubNonInheritedAnnotationInterface.class, Order.class);
 		assertNotNull("Should find @Order on SubNonInheritedAnnotationInterface", order);
 	}
 
 	/** @since 4.2 */
 	@Test
 	public void findClassAnnotationOnSubSubNonInheritedAnnotationInterface() {
-		Order order = AnnotationUtils.findAnnotation(SubSubNonInheritedAnnotationInterface.class, Order.class);
+		Order order = findAnnotation(SubSubNonInheritedAnnotationInterface.class, Order.class);
 		assertNotNull("Should find @Order on SubSubNonInheritedAnnotationInterface", order);
 	}
 
@@ -375,13 +381,53 @@ public class AnnotationUtilsTests {
 		assertFalse(isAnnotationInherited(Order.class, SubNonInheritedAnnotationClass.class));
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	public void getAnnotationAttributesWithoutAttributeAliases() {
+		Component component = WebController.class.getAnnotation(Component.class);
+		assertNotNull(component);
+
+		AnnotationAttributes attributes = (AnnotationAttributes) getAnnotationAttributes(component);
+		assertNotNull(attributes);
+		assertEquals("value attribute: ", "webController", attributes.getString(VALUE));
+		assertEquals(Component.class, attributes.annotationType());
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void getAnnotationAttributesWithAttributeAliases() throws Exception {
+		Method method = WebController.class.getMethod("handleMappedWithValueAttribute");
+		WebMapping webMapping = method.getAnnotation(WebMapping.class);
+		AnnotationAttributes attributes = (AnnotationAttributes) getAnnotationAttributes(webMapping);
+		assertNotNull(attributes);
+		assertEquals(WebMapping.class, attributes.annotationType());
+		assertEquals("name attribute: ", "foo", attributes.getString("name"));
+		assertEquals("value attribute: ", "/test", attributes.getString(VALUE));
+		assertEquals("path attribute: ", "/test", attributes.getString("path"));
+
+		method = WebController.class.getMethod("handleMappedWithPathAttribute");
+		webMapping = method.getAnnotation(WebMapping.class);
+		attributes = (AnnotationAttributes) getAnnotationAttributes(webMapping);
+		assertNotNull(attributes);
+		assertEquals(WebMapping.class, attributes.annotationType());
+		assertEquals("name attribute: ", "bar", attributes.getString("name"));
+		assertEquals("value attribute: ", "/test", attributes.getString(VALUE));
+		assertEquals("path attribute: ", "/test", attributes.getString("path"));
+
+		method = WebController.class.getMethod("handleMappedWithPathValueAndAttributes");
+		webMapping = method.getAnnotation(WebMapping.class);
+		exception.expect(AnnotationConfigurationException.class);
+		exception.expectMessage(containsString("attribute [value] and its alias [path]"));
+		exception.expectMessage(containsString("values of [/enigma] and [/test]"));
+		exception.expectMessage(containsString("but only one declaration is permitted"));
+		getAnnotationAttributes(webMapping);
+	}
+
 	@Test
 	public void getValueFromAnnotation() throws Exception {
 		Method method = SimpleFoo.class.getMethod("something", Object.class);
 		Order order = findAnnotation(method, Order.class);
 
-		assertEquals(1, AnnotationUtils.getValue(order, AnnotationUtils.VALUE));
-		assertEquals(1, AnnotationUtils.getValue(order));
+		assertEquals(1, getValue(order, VALUE));
+		assertEquals(1, getValue(order));
 	}
 
 	@Test
@@ -391,8 +437,8 @@ public class AnnotationUtilsTests {
 		Annotation annotation = declaredAnnotations[0];
 		assertNotNull(annotation);
 		assertEquals("NonPublicAnnotation", annotation.annotationType().getSimpleName());
-		assertEquals(42, AnnotationUtils.getValue(annotation, AnnotationUtils.VALUE));
-		assertEquals(42, AnnotationUtils.getValue(annotation));
+		assertEquals(42, getValue(annotation, VALUE));
+		assertEquals(42, getValue(annotation));
 	}
 
 	@Test
@@ -400,8 +446,8 @@ public class AnnotationUtilsTests {
 		Method method = SimpleFoo.class.getMethod("something", Object.class);
 		Order order = findAnnotation(method, Order.class);
 
-		assertEquals(Ordered.LOWEST_PRECEDENCE, AnnotationUtils.getDefaultValue(order, AnnotationUtils.VALUE));
-		assertEquals(Ordered.LOWEST_PRECEDENCE, AnnotationUtils.getDefaultValue(order));
+		assertEquals(Ordered.LOWEST_PRECEDENCE, getDefaultValue(order, VALUE));
+		assertEquals(Ordered.LOWEST_PRECEDENCE, getDefaultValue(order));
 	}
 
 	@Test
@@ -411,14 +457,14 @@ public class AnnotationUtilsTests {
 		Annotation annotation = declaredAnnotations[0];
 		assertNotNull(annotation);
 		assertEquals("NonPublicAnnotation", annotation.annotationType().getSimpleName());
-		assertEquals(-1, AnnotationUtils.getDefaultValue(annotation, AnnotationUtils.VALUE));
-		assertEquals(-1, AnnotationUtils.getDefaultValue(annotation));
+		assertEquals(-1, getDefaultValue(annotation, VALUE));
+		assertEquals(-1, getDefaultValue(annotation));
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void getDefaultValueFromAnnotationType() throws Exception {
-		assertEquals(Ordered.LOWEST_PRECEDENCE, AnnotationUtils.getDefaultValue(Order.class, AnnotationUtils.VALUE));
-		assertEquals(Ordered.LOWEST_PRECEDENCE, AnnotationUtils.getDefaultValue(Order.class));
+		assertEquals(Ordered.LOWEST_PRECEDENCE, getDefaultValue(Order.class, VALUE));
+		assertEquals(Ordered.LOWEST_PRECEDENCE, getDefaultValue(Order.class));
 	}
 
 	@Test
@@ -431,14 +477,174 @@ public class AnnotationUtilsTests {
 	@Test
 	public void getRepeatableFromMethod() throws Exception {
 		Method method = InterfaceWithRepeated.class.getMethod("foo");
-		Set<MyRepeatable> annotions = AnnotationUtils.getRepeatableAnnotation(method,
-				MyRepeatableContainer.class, MyRepeatable.class);
-		Set<String> values = new HashSet<String>();
-		for (MyRepeatable myRepeatable : annotions) {
-			values.add(myRepeatable.value());
+		Set<MyRepeatable> annotations = getRepeatableAnnotation(method, MyRepeatableContainer.class, MyRepeatable.class);
+		assertNotNull(annotations);
+		List<String> values = annotations.stream().map(MyRepeatable::value).collect(Collectors.toList());
+		assertThat(values, equalTo(Arrays.asList("a", "b", "c", "meta")));
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void getRepeatableWithAttributeAliases() throws Exception {
+		Set<ContextConfig> annotations = getRepeatableAnnotation(TestCase.class, Hierarchy.class, ContextConfig.class);
+		assertNotNull(annotations);
+
+		List<String> locations = annotations.stream().map(ContextConfig::locations).collect(Collectors.toList());
+		assertThat(locations, equalTo(Arrays.asList("A", "B")));
+
+		List<String> values = annotations.stream().map(ContextConfig::value).collect(Collectors.toList());
+		assertThat(values, equalTo(Arrays.asList("A", "B")));
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void getAliasedAttributeNameFromAliasedComposedAnnotation() throws Exception {
+		Method attribute = AliasedComposedContextConfig.class.getDeclaredMethod("xmlConfigFile");
+		assertEquals("locations", getAliasedAttributeName(attribute, ContextConfig.class));
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void synthesizeAnnotationWithoutAttributeAliases() throws Exception {
+		Component component = findAnnotation(WebController.class, Component.class);
+		assertNotNull(component);
+		Component synthesizedComponent = synthesizeAnnotation(component);
+		assertNotNull(synthesizedComponent);
+		assertSame(component, synthesizedComponent);
+		assertEquals("value attribute: ", "webController", synthesizedComponent.value());
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void synthesizeAnnotationWithAttributeAliasForNonexistentAttribute() throws Exception {
+		AliasForNonexistentAttribute annotation = AliasForNonexistentAttributeClass.class.getAnnotation(AliasForNonexistentAttribute.class);
+		exception.expect(AnnotationConfigurationException.class);
+		exception.expectMessage(containsString("Attribute [foo] in"));
+		exception.expectMessage(containsString(AliasForNonexistentAttribute.class.getName()));
+		exception.expectMessage(containsString("is declared as an @AliasFor nonexistent attribute [bar]"));
+		synthesizeAnnotation(annotation);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void synthesizeAnnotationWithAttributeAliasWithoutMirroredAliasFor() throws Exception {
+		AliasForWithoutMirroredAliasFor annotation = AliasForWithoutMirroredAliasForClass.class.getAnnotation(AliasForWithoutMirroredAliasFor.class);
+		exception.expect(AnnotationConfigurationException.class);
+		exception.expectMessage(containsString("Attribute [bar] in"));
+		exception.expectMessage(containsString(AliasForWithoutMirroredAliasFor.class.getName()));
+		exception.expectMessage(containsString("must be declared as an @AliasFor [foo]"));
+		synthesizeAnnotation(annotation);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void synthesizeAnnotationWithAttributeAliasWithMirroredAliasForWrongAttribute() throws Exception {
+		AliasForWithMirroredAliasForWrongAttribute annotation = AliasForWithMirroredAliasForWrongAttributeClass.class.getAnnotation(AliasForWithMirroredAliasForWrongAttribute.class);
+
+		// Since JDK 7+ does not guarantee consistent ordering of methods returned using
+		// reflection, we cannot make the test dependent on any specific ordering.
+		//
+		// In other words, we can't be certain which type of exception message we'll get,
+		// so we allow for both possibilities.
+		exception.expect(AnnotationConfigurationException.class);
+		exception.expectMessage(containsString("Attribute [bar] in"));
+		exception.expectMessage(containsString(AliasForWithMirroredAliasForWrongAttribute.class.getName()));
+		exception.expectMessage(either(containsString("must be declared as an @AliasFor [foo], not [quux]")).
+			or(containsString("is declared as an @AliasFor nonexistent attribute [quux]")));
+		synthesizeAnnotation(annotation);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void synthesizeAnnotationWithAttributeAliasForAttributeOfDifferentType() throws Exception {
+		AliasForAttributeOfDifferentType annotation = AliasForAttributeOfDifferentTypeClass.class.getAnnotation(AliasForAttributeOfDifferentType.class);
+		exception.expect(AnnotationConfigurationException.class);
+		exception.expectMessage(startsWith("Misconfigured aliases"));
+		exception.expectMessage(containsString(AliasForAttributeOfDifferentType.class.getName()));
+		// Since JDK 7+ does not guarantee consistent ordering of methods returned using
+		// reflection, we cannot make the test dependent on any specific ordering.
+		//
+		// In other words, we don't know if "foo" or "bar" will come first.
+		exception.expectMessage(containsString("attribute [foo]"));
+		exception.expectMessage(containsString("attribute [bar]"));
+		exception.expectMessage(containsString("must declare the same return type"));
+		synthesizeAnnotation(annotation);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void synthesizeAnnotationWithAttributeAliasForWithMissingDefaultValues() throws Exception {
+		AliasForWithMissingDefaultValues annotation = AliasForWithMissingDefaultValuesClass.class.getAnnotation(AliasForWithMissingDefaultValues.class);
+		exception.expectMessage(startsWith("Misconfigured aliases"));
+		exception.expectMessage(containsString(AliasForWithMissingDefaultValues.class.getName()));
+		// Since JDK 7+ does not guarantee consistent ordering of methods returned using
+		// reflection, we cannot make the test dependent on any specific ordering.
+		//
+		// In other words, we don't know if "foo" or "bar" will come first.
+		exception.expectMessage(containsString("attribute [foo]"));
+		exception.expectMessage(containsString("attribute [bar]"));
+		exception.expectMessage(containsString("must declare default values"));
+		synthesizeAnnotation(annotation);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void synthesizeAnnotationWithAttributeAliasForAttributeWithDifferentDefaultValue() throws Exception {
+		AliasForAttributeWithDifferentDefaultValue annotation = AliasForAttributeWithDifferentDefaultValueClass.class.getAnnotation(AliasForAttributeWithDifferentDefaultValue.class);
+		exception.expectMessage(startsWith("Misconfigured aliases"));
+		exception.expectMessage(containsString(AliasForAttributeWithDifferentDefaultValue.class.getName()));
+		// Since JDK 7+ does not guarantee consistent ordering of methods returned using
+		// reflection, we cannot make the test dependent on any specific ordering.
+		//
+		// In other words, we don't know if "foo" or "bar" will come first.
+		exception.expectMessage(containsString("attribute [foo]"));
+		exception.expectMessage(containsString("attribute [bar]"));
+		exception.expectMessage(containsString("must declare the same default value"));
+		synthesizeAnnotation(annotation);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void synthesizeAnnotationWithAttributeAliases() throws Exception {
+		Method method = WebController.class.getMethod("handleMappedWithValueAttribute");
+		WebMapping webMapping = method.getAnnotation(WebMapping.class);
+		assertNotNull(webMapping);
+		WebMapping synthesizedWebMapping = synthesizeAnnotation(webMapping);
+		assertNotSame(webMapping, synthesizedWebMapping);
+		assertThat(synthesizedWebMapping, instanceOf(SynthesizedAnnotation.class));
+
+		assertNotNull(synthesizedWebMapping);
+		assertEquals("name attribute: ", "foo", synthesizedWebMapping.name());
+		assertEquals("aliased path attribute: ", "/test", synthesizedWebMapping.path());
+		assertEquals("actual value attribute: ", "/test", synthesizedWebMapping.value());
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void synthesizeAnnotationWithAttributeAliasesInNestedAnnotations() throws Exception {
+		Hierarchy hierarchy = TestCase.class.getAnnotation(Hierarchy.class);
+		assertNotNull(hierarchy);
+		Hierarchy synthesizedHierarchy = synthesizeAnnotation(hierarchy);
+		assertNotSame(hierarchy, synthesizedHierarchy);
+		assertThat(synthesizedHierarchy, instanceOf(SynthesizedAnnotation.class));
+
+		ContextConfig[] configs = synthesizedHierarchy.value();
+		assertNotNull(configs);
+		for (ContextConfig contextConfig : configs) {
+			assertThat(contextConfig, instanceOf(SynthesizedAnnotation.class));
 		}
-		assertThat(values, equalTo((Set<String>) new HashSet<String>(
-				Arrays.asList("a", "b", "c", "meta"))));
+
+		List<String> locations = Arrays.stream(configs).map(ContextConfig::locations).collect(Collectors.toList());
+		assertThat(locations, equalTo(Arrays.asList("A", "B")));
+
+		List<String> values = Arrays.stream(configs).map(ContextConfig::value).collect(Collectors.toList());
+		assertThat(values, equalTo(Arrays.asList("A", "B")));
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void synthesizeAlreadySynthesizedAnnotation() throws Exception {
+		Method method = WebController.class.getMethod("handleMappedWithValueAttribute");
+		WebMapping webMapping = method.getAnnotation(WebMapping.class);
+		assertNotNull(webMapping);
+		WebMapping synthesizedWebMapping = synthesizeAnnotation(webMapping);
+		assertNotSame(webMapping, synthesizedWebMapping);
+		WebMapping synthesizedAgainWebMapping = synthesizeAnnotation(synthesizedWebMapping);
+		assertSame(synthesizedWebMapping, synthesizedAgainWebMapping);
+		assertThat(synthesizedAgainWebMapping, instanceOf(SynthesizedAnnotation.class));
+
+		assertNotNull(synthesizedAgainWebMapping);
+		assertEquals("name attribute: ", "foo", synthesizedAgainWebMapping.name());
+		assertEquals("aliased path attribute: ", "/test", synthesizedAgainWebMapping.path());
+		assertEquals("actual value attribute: ", "/test", synthesizedAgainWebMapping.value());
 	}
 
 
@@ -710,4 +916,149 @@ public class AnnotationUtilsTests {
 		void foo();
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Mock of {@link org.springframework.web.bind.annotation.RequestMapping}.
+	 */
+	@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
+	@interface WebMapping {
+
+		String name();
+
+		@AliasFor(attribute = "path")
+		String value() default "";
+
+		@AliasFor(attribute = "value")
+		String path() default "";
+	}
+
+	@Component("webController")
+	static class WebController {
+
+		@WebMapping(value = "/test", name = "foo")
+		public void handleMappedWithValueAttribute() {
+		}
+
+		@WebMapping(path = "/test", name = "bar")
+		public void handleMappedWithPathAttribute() {
+		}
+
+		@WebMapping(value = "/enigma", path = "/test", name = "baz")
+		public void handleMappedWithPathValueAndAttributes() {
+		}
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Mock of {@link org.springframework.test.context.ContextConfiguration}.
+	 */
+	@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
+	static @interface ContextConfig {
+
+		@AliasFor(attribute = "locations")
+		String value() default "";
+
+		@AliasFor(attribute = "value")
+		String locations() default "";
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Mock of {@link org.springframework.test.context.ContextHierarchy}.
+	 */
+	@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
+	static @interface Hierarchy {
+
+		ContextConfig[] value();
+	}
+
+	@Hierarchy({ @ContextConfig("A"), @ContextConfig(locations = "B") })
+	static class TestCase {
+	}
+
+	@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
+	static @interface AliasForNonexistentAttribute {
+
+		@AliasFor(attribute = "bar")
+		String foo() default "";
+	}
+
+	@AliasForNonexistentAttribute
+	static class AliasForNonexistentAttributeClass {
+	}
+
+	@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
+	static @interface AliasForWithoutMirroredAliasFor {
+
+		@AliasFor(attribute = "bar")
+		String foo() default "";
+
+		String bar() default "";
+	}
+
+	@AliasForWithoutMirroredAliasFor
+	static class AliasForWithoutMirroredAliasForClass {
+	}
+
+	@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
+	static @interface AliasForWithMirroredAliasForWrongAttribute {
+
+		@AliasFor(attribute = "bar")
+		String[] foo() default "";
+
+		@AliasFor(attribute = "quux")
+		String[] bar() default "";
+	}
+
+	@AliasForWithMirroredAliasForWrongAttribute
+	static class AliasForWithMirroredAliasForWrongAttributeClass {
+	}
+
+	@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
+	static @interface AliasForAttributeOfDifferentType {
+
+		@AliasFor(attribute = "bar")
+		String[] foo() default "";
+
+		@AliasFor(attribute = "foo")
+		boolean bar() default true;
+	}
+
+	@AliasForAttributeOfDifferentType
+	static class AliasForAttributeOfDifferentTypeClass {
+	}
+
+	@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
+	static @interface AliasForWithMissingDefaultValues {
+
+		@AliasFor(attribute = "bar")
+		String foo();
+
+		@AliasFor(attribute = "foo")
+		String bar();
+	}
+
+	@AliasForWithMissingDefaultValues(foo = "foo", bar = "bar")
+	static class AliasForWithMissingDefaultValuesClass {
+	}
+
+	@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
+	static @interface AliasForAttributeWithDifferentDefaultValue {
+
+		@AliasFor(attribute = "bar")
+		String foo() default "X";
+
+		@AliasFor(attribute = "foo")
+		String bar() default "Z";
+	}
+
+	@AliasForAttributeWithDifferentDefaultValue
+	static class AliasForAttributeWithDifferentDefaultValueClass {
+	}
+
+	@ContextConfig
+	@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
+	static @interface AliasedComposedContextConfig {
+
+		@AliasFor(annotation = ContextConfig.class, attribute = "locations")
+		String xmlConfigFile();
+	}
+
 }

spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/context/ActiveProfiles.java

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2002-2014 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2002-2015 the original author or authors.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
 import java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy;
 import java.lang.annotation.Target;
 
+import org.springframework.core.annotation.AliasFor;
+
 /**
  * {@code ActiveProfiles} is a class-level annotation that is used to declare
  * which <em>active bean definition profiles</em> should be used when loading
@@ -53,6 +55,7 @@ public @interface ActiveProfiles {
 	 * <p>This attribute may <strong>not</strong> be used in conjunction with
 	 * {@link #profiles}, but it may be used <em>instead</em> of {@link #profiles}.
 	 */
+	@AliasFor(attribute = "profiles")
 	String[] value() default {};
 
 	/**
@@ -61,6 +64,7 @@ public @interface ActiveProfiles {
 	 * <p>This attribute may <strong>not</strong> be used in conjunction with
 	 * {@link #value}, but it may be used <em>instead</em> of {@link #value}.
 	 */
+	@AliasFor(attribute = "value")
 	String[] profiles() default {};
 
 	/**

spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/context/ContextConfiguration.java

@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import java.lang.annotation.Target;
 
 import org.springframework.context.ApplicationContextInitializer;
 import org.springframework.context.ConfigurableApplicationContext;
+import org.springframework.core.annotation.AliasFor;
 
 /**
  * {@code @ContextConfiguration} defines class-level metadata that is used to determine
@@ -97,6 +98,7 @@ public @interface ContextConfiguration {
 	 * @since 3.0
 	 * @see #inheritLocations
 	 */
+	@AliasFor(attribute = "locations")
 	String[] value() default {};
 
 	/**
@@ -127,6 +129,7 @@ public @interface ContextConfiguration {
 	 * @since 2.5
 	 * @see #inheritLocations
 	 */
+	@AliasFor(attribute = "value")
 	String[] locations() default {};
 
 	/**

spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/context/ContextConfigurationAttributes.java

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2002-2014 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2002-2015 the original author or authors.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ public class ContextConfigurationAttributes {
 	 * @param contextConfiguration the annotation from which to retrieve the attributes
 	 */
 	public ContextConfigurationAttributes(Class<?> declaringClass, ContextConfiguration contextConfiguration) {
-		this(declaringClass, resolveLocations(declaringClass, contextConfiguration), contextConfiguration.classes(),
+		this(declaringClass, contextConfiguration.locations(), contextConfiguration.classes(),
 				contextConfiguration.inheritLocations(), contextConfiguration.initializers(),
 				contextConfiguration.inheritInitializers(), contextConfiguration.name(), contextConfiguration.loader());
 	}
@@ -83,12 +83,9 @@ public class ContextConfigurationAttributes {
 	 */
 	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
 	public ContextConfigurationAttributes(Class<?> declaringClass, AnnotationAttributes annAttrs) {
-		this(declaringClass,
-				resolveLocations(declaringClass, annAttrs.getStringArray("locations"), annAttrs.getStringArray("value")),
-				annAttrs.getClassArray("classes"), annAttrs.getBoolean("inheritLocations"),
-				(Class<? extends ApplicationContextInitializer<? extends ConfigurableApplicationContext>>[]) annAttrs.getClassArray("initializers"),
-				annAttrs.getBoolean("inheritInitializers"), annAttrs.getString("name"),
-				(Class<? extends ContextLoader>) annAttrs.getClass("loader"));
+		this(declaringClass, annAttrs.getStringArray("locations"), annAttrs.getClassArray("classes"), annAttrs.getBoolean("inheritLocations"),
+			(Class<? extends ApplicationContextInitializer<? extends ConfigurableApplicationContext>>[]) annAttrs.getClassArray("initializers"),
+			annAttrs.getBoolean("inheritInitializers"), annAttrs.getString("name"), (Class<? extends ContextLoader>) annAttrs.getClass("loader"));
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -159,37 +156,6 @@ public class ContextConfigurationAttributes {
 	}
 
 
-	/**
-	 * Resolve resource locations from the {@link ContextConfiguration#locations() locations}
-	 * and {@link ContextConfiguration#value() value} attributes of the supplied
-	 * {@link ContextConfiguration} annotation.
-	 * @throws IllegalStateException if both the locations and value attributes have been declared
-	 */
-	private static String[] resolveLocations(Class<?> declaringClass, ContextConfiguration contextConfiguration) {
-		return resolveLocations(declaringClass, contextConfiguration.locations(), contextConfiguration.value());
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Resolve resource locations from the supplied {@code locations} and
-	 * {@code value} arrays, which correspond to attributes of the same names in
-	 * the {@link ContextConfiguration} annotation.
-	 * @throws IllegalStateException if both the locations and value attributes have been declared
-	 */
-	private static String[] resolveLocations(Class<?> declaringClass, String[] locations, String[] value) {
-		Assert.notNull(declaringClass, "declaringClass must not be null");
-		if (!ObjectUtils.isEmpty(value) && !ObjectUtils.isEmpty(locations)) {
-			throw new IllegalStateException(String.format("Test class [%s] has been configured with " +
-							"@ContextConfiguration's 'value' %s and 'locations' %s attributes. Only one declaration " +
-							"of resource locations is permitted per @ContextConfiguration annotation.",
-					declaringClass.getName(), ObjectUtils.nullSafeToString(value), ObjectUtils.nullSafeToString(locations)));
-		}
-		else if (!ObjectUtils.isEmpty(value)) {
-			locations = value;
-		}
-		return locations;
-	}
-
-
 	/**
 	 * Get the {@linkplain Class class} that declared the
 	 * {@link ContextConfiguration @ContextConfiguration} annotation.

spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/context/TestExecutionListeners.java

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2002-2014 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2002-2015 the original author or authors.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
 import java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy;
 import java.lang.annotation.Target;
 
+import org.springframework.core.annotation.AliasFor;
+
 /**
  * {@code TestExecutionListeners} defines class-level metadata for configuring
  * which {@link TestExecutionListener TestExecutionListeners} should be
@@ -85,6 +87,7 @@ public @interface TestExecutionListeners {
 	 * <p>This attribute may <strong>not</strong> be used in conjunction with
 	 * {@link #listeners}, but it may be used instead of {@link #listeners}.
 	 */
+	@AliasFor(attribute = "listeners")
 	Class<? extends TestExecutionListener>[] value() default {};
 
 	/**
@@ -100,6 +103,7 @@ public @interface TestExecutionListeners {
 	 * @see org.springframework.test.context.transaction.TransactionalTestExecutionListener
 	 * @see org.springframework.test.context.jdbc.SqlScriptsTestExecutionListener
 	 */
+	@AliasFor(attribute = "value")
 	Class<? extends TestExecutionListener>[] listeners() default {};
 
 	/**

spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/context/TestPropertySource.java

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2002-2014 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2002-2015 the original author or authors.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
 import java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy;
 import java.lang.annotation.Target;
 
+import org.springframework.core.annotation.AliasFor;
+
 /**
  * {@code @TestPropertySource} is a class-level annotation that is used to
  * configure the {@link #locations} of properties files and inlined
@@ -94,6 +96,7 @@ public @interface TestPropertySource {
 	 *
 	 * @see #locations
 	 */
+	@AliasFor(attribute = "locations")
 	String[] value() default {};
 
 	/**
@@ -141,6 +144,7 @@ public @interface TestPropertySource {
 	 * @see #properties
 	 * @see org.springframework.core.env.PropertySource
 	 */
+	@AliasFor(attribute = "value")
 	String[] locations() default {};
 
 	/**

spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/context/jdbc/Sql.java

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2002-2014 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2002-2015 the original author or authors.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ import java.lang.annotation.Repeatable;
 import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
 import java.lang.annotation.Target;
 
+import org.springframework.core.annotation.AliasFor;
+
 import static java.lang.annotation.ElementType.*;
 import static java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy.*;
 
@@ -93,6 +95,7 @@ public @interface Sql {
 	 * <p>This attribute may <strong>not</strong> be used in conjunction with
 	 * {@link #scripts}, but it may be used instead of {@link #scripts}.
 	 */
+	@AliasFor(attribute = "scripts")
 	String[] value() default {};
 
 	/**
@@ -126,6 +129,7 @@ public @interface Sql {
 	 * {@code "classpath:com/example/MyTest.testMethod.sql"}.</li>
 	 * </ul>
 	 */
+	@AliasFor(attribute = "value")
 	String[] scripts() default {};
 
 	/**

spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/context/jdbc/SqlScriptsTestExecutionListener.java

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2002-2014 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2002-2015 the original author or authors.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -255,24 +255,6 @@ public class SqlScriptsTestExecutionListener extends AbstractTestExecutionListen
 
 	private String[] getScripts(Sql sql, TestContext testContext, boolean classLevel) {
 		String[] scripts = sql.scripts();
-		String[] value = sql.value();
-		boolean scriptsDeclared = !ObjectUtils.isEmpty(scripts);
-		boolean valueDeclared = !ObjectUtils.isEmpty(value);
-
-		if (valueDeclared && scriptsDeclared) {
-			String elementType = (classLevel ? "class" : "method");
-			String elementName = (classLevel ? testContext.getTestClass().getName()
-					: testContext.getTestMethod().toString());
-			String msg = String.format("Test %s [%s] has been configured with @Sql's 'value' [%s] "
-					+ "and 'scripts' [%s] attributes. Only one declaration of SQL script "
-					+ "paths is permitted per @Sql annotation.", elementType, elementName,
-				ObjectUtils.nullSafeToString(value), ObjectUtils.nullSafeToString(scripts));
-			logger.error(msg);
-			throw new IllegalStateException(msg);
-		}
-		if (valueDeclared) {
-			scripts = value;
-		}
 		if (ObjectUtils.isEmpty(scripts)) {
 			scripts = new String[] { detectDefaultScript(testContext, classLevel) };
 		}

spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/context/support/AbstractTestContextBootstrapper.java

@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@ import org.springframework.test.util.MetaAnnotationUtils;
 import org.springframework.test.util.MetaAnnotationUtils.AnnotationDescriptor;
 import org.springframework.util.Assert;
 import org.springframework.util.ClassUtils;
-import org.springframework.util.ObjectUtils;
 import org.springframework.util.StringUtils;
 
 /**
@@ -147,18 +146,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractTestContextBootstrapper implements TestContextBoot
 						declaringClass.getName()));
 				}
 
-				Class<? extends TestExecutionListener>[] valueListenerClasses = (Class<? extends TestExecutionListener>[]) annAttrs.getClassArray("value");
 				Class<? extends TestExecutionListener>[] listenerClasses = (Class<? extends TestExecutionListener>[]) annAttrs.getClassArray("listeners");
-				if (!ObjectUtils.isEmpty(valueListenerClasses) && !ObjectUtils.isEmpty(listenerClasses)) {
-					throw new IllegalStateException(String.format(
-						"Class [%s] configured with @TestExecutionListeners' "
-								+ "'value' [%s] and 'listeners' [%s] attributes. Use one or the other, but not both.",
-						declaringClass.getName(), ObjectUtils.nullSafeToString(valueListenerClasses),
-						ObjectUtils.nullSafeToString(listenerClasses)));
-				}
-				else if (!ObjectUtils.isEmpty(valueListenerClasses)) {
-					listenerClasses = valueListenerClasses;
-				}
 
 				boolean inheritListeners = annAttrs.getBoolean("inheritListeners");
 				AnnotationDescriptor<TestExecutionListeners> superDescriptor = MetaAnnotationUtils.findAnnotationDescriptor(

spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/context/support/ActiveProfilesUtils.java

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2002-2014 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2002-2015 the original author or authors.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ import org.springframework.test.context.ActiveProfilesResolver;
 import org.springframework.test.util.MetaAnnotationUtils;
 import org.springframework.test.util.MetaAnnotationUtils.AnnotationDescriptor;
 import org.springframework.util.Assert;
-import org.springframework.util.ObjectUtils;
 import org.springframework.util.StringUtils;
 
 /**
@@ -94,7 +93,6 @@ abstract class ActiveProfilesUtils {
 				logger.trace(String.format("Retrieved @ActiveProfiles attributes [%s] for declaring class [%s].",
 					annAttrs, declaringClass.getName()));
 			}
-			validateActiveProfilesConfiguration(declaringClass, annAttrs);
 
 			Class<? extends ActiveProfilesResolver> resolverClass = annAttrs.getClass("resolver");
 			if (ActiveProfilesResolver.class == resolverClass) {
@@ -134,20 +132,4 @@ abstract class ActiveProfilesUtils {
 		return StringUtils.toStringArray(activeProfiles);
 	}
 
-	private static void validateActiveProfilesConfiguration(Class<?> declaringClass, AnnotationAttributes annAttrs) {
-		String[] valueProfiles = annAttrs.getStringArray("value");
-		String[] profiles = annAttrs.getStringArray("profiles");
-		boolean valueDeclared = !ObjectUtils.isEmpty(valueProfiles);
-		boolean profilesDeclared = !ObjectUtils.isEmpty(profiles);
-
-		if (valueDeclared && profilesDeclared) {
-			String msg = String.format("Class [%s] has been configured with @ActiveProfiles' 'value' [%s] "
-					+ "and 'profiles' [%s] attributes. Only one declaration of active bean "
-					+ "definition profiles is permitted per @ActiveProfiles annotation.", declaringClass.getName(),
-				ObjectUtils.nullSafeToString(valueProfiles), ObjectUtils.nullSafeToString(profiles));
-			logger.error(msg);
-			throw new IllegalStateException(msg);
-		}
-	}
-
 }

spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/context/support/DefaultActiveProfilesResolver.java

@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ import org.springframework.core.annotation.AnnotationAttributes;
 import org.springframework.test.context.ActiveProfiles;
 import org.springframework.test.context.ActiveProfilesResolver;
 import org.springframework.util.Assert;
-import org.springframework.util.ObjectUtils;
 import org.springframework.util.StringUtils;
 
 import static org.springframework.test.util.MetaAnnotationUtils.*;
@@ -81,25 +80,7 @@ public class DefaultActiveProfilesResolver implements ActiveProfilesResolver {
 					annAttrs, declaringClass.getName()));
 			}
 
-			String[] profiles = annAttrs.getStringArray("profiles");
-			String[] valueProfiles = annAttrs.getStringArray("value");
-			boolean valueDeclared = !ObjectUtils.isEmpty(valueProfiles);
-			boolean profilesDeclared = !ObjectUtils.isEmpty(profiles);
-
-			if (valueDeclared && profilesDeclared) {
-				String msg = String.format("Class [%s] has been configured with @ActiveProfiles' 'value' [%s] "
-						+ "and 'profiles' [%s] attributes. Only one declaration of active bean "
-						+ "definition profiles is permitted per @ActiveProfiles annotation.", declaringClass.getName(),
-					ObjectUtils.nullSafeToString(valueProfiles), ObjectUtils.nullSafeToString(profiles));
-				logger.error(msg);
-				throw new IllegalStateException(msg);
-			}
-
-			if (valueDeclared) {
-				profiles = valueProfiles;
-			}
-
-			for (String profile : profiles) {
+			for (String profile : annAttrs.getStringArray("profiles")) {
 				if (StringUtils.hasText(profile)) {
 					activeProfiles.add(profile.trim());
 				}

spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/context/support/TestPropertySourceAttributes.java

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2002-2014 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2002-2015 the original author or authors.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -67,8 +67,7 @@ class TestPropertySourceAttributes {
 	 * @param annAttrs the annotation attributes from which to retrieve the attributes
 	 */
 	TestPropertySourceAttributes(Class<?> declaringClass, AnnotationAttributes annAttrs) {
-		this(declaringClass, resolveLocations(declaringClass, annAttrs.getStringArray("locations"),
-			annAttrs.getStringArray("value")), annAttrs.getBoolean("inheritLocations"),
+		this(declaringClass, annAttrs.getStringArray("locations"), annAttrs.getBoolean("inheritLocations"),
 			annAttrs.getStringArray("properties"), annAttrs.getBoolean("inheritProperties"));
 	}
 
@@ -156,31 +155,6 @@ class TestPropertySourceAttributes {
 		.toString();
 	}
 
-	/**
-	 * Resolve resource locations from the supplied {@code locations} and
-	 * {@code value} arrays, which correspond to attributes of the same names in
-	 * the {@link TestPropertySource} annotation.
-	 *
-	 * @throws IllegalStateException if both the locations and value attributes have been declared
-	 */
-	private static String[] resolveLocations(Class<?> declaringClass, String[] locations, String[] value) {
-		Assert.notNull(declaringClass, "declaringClass must not be null");
-
-		if (!ObjectUtils.isEmpty(value) && !ObjectUtils.isEmpty(locations)) {
-			String msg = String.format("Class [%s] has been configured with @TestPropertySource's 'value' [%s] "
-					+ "and 'locations' [%s] attributes. Only one declaration of resource "
-					+ "locations is permitted per @TestPropertySource annotation.", declaringClass.getName(),
-				ObjectUtils.nullSafeToString(value), ObjectUtils.nullSafeToString(locations));
-			logger.error(msg);
-			throw new IllegalStateException(msg);
-		}
-		else if (!ObjectUtils.isEmpty(value)) {
-			locations = value;
-		}
-
-		return locations;
-	}
-
 	/**
 	 * Detect a default properties file for the supplied class, as specified
 	 * in the class-level Javadoc for {@link TestPropertySource}.

spring-test/src/test/java/org/springframework/test/context/TestExecutionListenersTests.java

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2002-2014 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2002-2015 the original author or authors.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import java.util.stream.Collectors;
 import org.junit.Test;
 
 import org.springframework.core.Ordered;
+import org.springframework.core.annotation.AnnotationConfigurationException;
 import org.springframework.test.context.jdbc.SqlScriptsTestExecutionListener;
 import org.springframework.test.context.support.AbstractTestExecutionListener;
 import org.springframework.test.context.support.DependencyInjectionTestExecutionListener;
@@ -185,7 +186,7 @@ public class TestExecutionListenersTests {
 			testContextManager.getTestExecutionListeners().size());
 	}
 
-	@Test(expected = IllegalStateException.class)
+	@Test(expected = AnnotationConfigurationException.class)
 	public void listenersAndValueAttributesDeclared() {
 		new TestContextManager(DuplicateListenersConfigTestCase.class);
 	}

spring-test/src/test/java/org/springframework/test/context/jdbc/SqlScriptsTestExecutionListenerTests.java

@@ -16,15 +16,20 @@
 
 package org.springframework.test.context.jdbc;
 
+import org.junit.Rule;
 import org.junit.Test;
+import org.junit.rules.ExpectedException;
+
 import org.mockito.BDDMockito;
 
 import org.springframework.beans.factory.config.AutowireCapableBeanFactory;
 import org.springframework.context.ApplicationContext;
+import org.springframework.core.annotation.AnnotationConfigurationException;
 import org.springframework.core.io.Resource;
 import org.springframework.test.context.TestContext;
 import org.springframework.test.context.jdbc.SqlConfig.TransactionMode;
 
+import static org.hamcrest.Matchers.*;
 import static org.junit.Assert.*;
 import static org.mockito.BDDMockito.*;
 
@@ -40,6 +45,9 @@ public class SqlScriptsTestExecutionListenerTests {
 
 	private final TestContext testContext = mock(TestContext.class);
 
+	@Rule
+	public final ExpectedException exception = ExpectedException.none();
+
 
 	@Test
 	public void missingValueAndScriptsAtClassLevel() throws Exception {
@@ -65,7 +73,14 @@ public class SqlScriptsTestExecutionListenerTests {
 		BDDMockito.<Class<?>> given(testContext.getTestClass()).willReturn(clazz);
 		given(testContext.getTestMethod()).willReturn(clazz.getDeclaredMethod("foo"));
 
-		assertExceptionContains("Only one declaration of SQL script paths is permitted");
+		exception.expect(AnnotationConfigurationException.class);
+		exception.expectMessage(either(
+				containsString("attribute [value] and its alias [scripts]")).or(
+				containsString("attribute [scripts] and its alias [value]")));
+		exception.expectMessage(either(containsString("values of [{foo}] and [{bar}]")).or(
+				containsString("values of [{bar}] and [{foo}]")));
+		exception.expectMessage(containsString("but only one declaration is permitted"));
+		listener.beforeTestMethod(testContext);
 	}
 
 	@Test

spring-test/src/test/java/org/springframework/test/context/support/ActiveProfilesUtilsTests.java

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import java.util.Set;
 
 import org.junit.Test;
 
+import org.springframework.core.annotation.AnnotationConfigurationException;
 import org.springframework.test.context.ActiveProfiles;
 import org.springframework.test.context.ActiveProfilesResolver;
 import org.springframework.util.StringUtils;
@@ -190,7 +191,7 @@ public class ActiveProfilesUtilsTests extends AbstractContextConfigurationUtilsT
 	/**
 	 * @since 4.0
 	 */
-	@Test(expected = IllegalStateException.class)
+	@Test(expected = AnnotationConfigurationException.class)
 	public void resolveActiveProfilesWithConflictingProfilesAndValue() {
 		resolveActiveProfiles(ConflictingProfilesAndValueTestCase.class);
 	}

spring-test/src/test/java/org/springframework/test/context/support/ContextLoaderUtilsConfigurationAttributesTests.java

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2002-2014 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2002-2015 the original author or authors.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -18,12 +18,16 @@ package org.springframework.test.context.support;
 
 import java.util.List;
 
+import org.junit.Rule;
 import org.junit.Test;
+import org.junit.rules.ExpectedException;
 
+import org.springframework.core.annotation.AnnotationConfigurationException;
 import org.springframework.test.context.ContextConfiguration;
 import org.springframework.test.context.ContextConfigurationAttributes;
 import org.springframework.test.context.ContextLoader;
 
+import static org.hamcrest.Matchers.*;
 import static org.junit.Assert.*;
 import static org.springframework.test.context.support.ContextLoaderUtils.*;
 
@@ -35,6 +39,10 @@ import static org.springframework.test.context.support.ContextLoaderUtils.*;
  */
 public class ContextLoaderUtilsConfigurationAttributesTests extends AbstractContextConfigurationUtilsTests {
 
+	@Rule
+	public final ExpectedException exception = ExpectedException.none();
+
+
 	private void assertLocationsFooAttributes(ContextConfigurationAttributes attributes) {
 		assertAttributes(attributes, LocationsFoo.class, new String[] { "/foo.xml" }, EMPTY_CLASS_ARRAY,
 			ContextLoader.class, false);
@@ -55,8 +63,17 @@ public class ContextLoaderUtilsConfigurationAttributesTests extends AbstractCont
 			AnnotationConfigContextLoader.class, true);
 	}
 
-	@Test(expected = IllegalStateException.class)
+	@Test
 	public void resolveConfigAttributesWithConflictingLocations() {
+		exception.expect(AnnotationConfigurationException.class);
+		exception.expectMessage(containsString(ConflictingLocations.class.getName()));
+		exception.expectMessage(either(
+				containsString("attribute [value] and its alias [locations]")).or(
+				containsString("attribute [locations] and its alias [value]")));
+		exception.expectMessage(either(
+				containsString("values of [{x}] and [{y}]")).or(
+				containsString("values of [{y}] and [{x}]")));
+		exception.expectMessage(containsString("but only one declaration is permitted"));
 		resolveContextConfigurationAttributes(ConflictingLocations.class);
 	}
 

spring-test/src/test/java/org/springframework/test/context/support/TestPropertySourceUtilsTests.java

@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import org.junit.Test;
 import org.junit.rules.ExpectedException;
 
 import org.springframework.context.ConfigurableApplicationContext;
+import org.springframework.core.annotation.AnnotationConfigurationException;
 import org.springframework.core.env.ConfigurableEnvironment;
 import org.springframework.core.env.MutablePropertySources;
 import org.springframework.mock.env.MockEnvironment;
@@ -81,7 +82,7 @@ public class TestPropertySourceUtilsTests {
 
 	@Test
 	public void locationsAndValueAttributes() {
-		expectedException.expect(IllegalStateException.class);
+		expectedException.expect(AnnotationConfigurationException.class);
 		buildMergedTestPropertySources(LocationsAndValuePropertySources.class);
 	}
 

spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/bind/annotation/ControllerAdvice.java

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2002-2014 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2002-2015 the original author or authors.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
 import java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy;
 import java.lang.annotation.Target;
 
+import org.springframework.core.annotation.AliasFor;
 import org.springframework.stereotype.Component;
 
 /**
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@ import org.springframework.stereotype.Component;
  *
  * @author Rossen Stoyanchev
  * @author Brian Clozel
+ * @author Sam Brannen
  * @since 3.2
  */
 @Target(ElementType.TYPE)
@@ -59,26 +61,28 @@ import org.springframework.stereotype.Component;
 public @interface ControllerAdvice {
 
 	/**
-	 * Alias for the {@link #basePackages()} attribute.
-	 * Allows for more concise annotation declarations e.g.:
+	 * Alias for the {@link #basePackages} attribute.
+	 * <p>Allows for more concise annotation declarations e.g.:
 	 * {@code @ControllerAdvice("org.my.pkg")} is equivalent to
 	 * {@code @ControllerAdvice(basePackages="org.my.pkg")}.
 	 * @since 4.0
 	 * @see #basePackages()
 	 */
+	@AliasFor(attribute = "basePackages")
 	String[] value() default {};
 
 	/**
 	 * Array of base packages.
-	 * Controllers that belong to those base packages or sub-packages thereof
+	 * <p>Controllers that belong to those base packages or sub-packages thereof
 	 * will be included, e.g.: {@code @ControllerAdvice(basePackages="org.my.pkg")}
 	 * or {@code @ControllerAdvice(basePackages={"org.my.pkg", "org.my.other.pkg"})}.
-	 * <p>{@link #value()} is an alias for this attribute, simply allowing for
+	 * <p>{@link #value} is an alias for this attribute, simply allowing for
 	 * more concise use of the annotation.
 	 * <p>Also consider using {@link #basePackageClasses()} as a type-safe
 	 * alternative to String-based package names.
 	 * @since 4.0
 	 */
+	@AliasFor(attribute = "value")
 	String[] basePackages() default {};
 
 	/**
@@ -93,7 +97,7 @@ public @interface ControllerAdvice {
 
 	/**
 	 * Array of classes.
-	 * Controllers that are assignable to at least one of the given types
+	 * <p>Controllers that are assignable to at least one of the given types
 	 * will be assisted by the {@code @ControllerAdvice} annotated class.
 	 * @since 4.0
 	 */
@@ -101,7 +105,7 @@ public @interface ControllerAdvice {
 
 	/**
 	 * Array of annotations.
-	 * Controllers that are annotated with this/one of those annotation(s)
+	 * <p>Controllers that are annotated with this/one of those annotation(s)
 	 * will be assisted by the {@code @ControllerAdvice} annotated class.
 	 * <p>Consider creating a special annotation or use a predefined one,
 	 * like {@link RestController @RestController}.

spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/bind/annotation/RequestMapping.java

@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ import java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy;
 import java.lang.annotation.Target;
 import java.util.concurrent.Callable;
 
+import org.springframework.core.annotation.AliasFor;
+
 /**
  * Annotation for mapping web requests onto specific handler classes and/or
  * handler methods. Provides a consistent style between Servlet and Portlet
@@ -298,7 +300,7 @@ public @interface RequestMapping {
 
 	/**
 	 * The primary mapping expressed by this annotation.
-	 * <p>In a Servlet environment this is an alias for {@link #path()}.
+	 * <p>In a Servlet environment this is an alias for {@link #path}.
 	 * For example {@code @RequestMapping("/foo")} is equivalent to
 	 * {@code @RequestMapping(path="/foo")}.
 	 * <p>In a Portlet environment this is the mapped portlet modes
@@ -307,6 +309,7 @@ public @interface RequestMapping {
 	 * When used at the type level, all method-level mappings inherit
 	 * this primary mapping, narrowing it for a specific handler method.
 	 */
+	@AliasFor(attribute = "path")
 	String[] value() default {};
 
 	/**
@@ -321,6 +324,7 @@ public @interface RequestMapping {
 	 * @see org.springframework.web.bind.annotation.ValueConstants#DEFAULT_NONE
 	 * @since 4.2
 	 */
+	@AliasFor(attribute = "value")
 	String[] path() default {};
 
 	/**

spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/method/ControllerAdviceBean.java

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2002-2014 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2002-2015 the original author or authors.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -223,11 +223,6 @@ public class ControllerAdviceBean implements Ordered {
 
 	private static Set<String> initBasePackages(ControllerAdvice annotation) {
 		Set<String> basePackages = new LinkedHashSet<String>();
-		for (String basePackage : annotation.value()) {
-			if (StringUtils.hasText(basePackage)) {
-				basePackages.add(adaptBasePackage(basePackage));
-			}
-		}
 		for (String basePackage : annotation.basePackages()) {
 			if (StringUtils.hasText(basePackage)) {
 				basePackages.add(adaptBasePackage(basePackage));