Moduleattr

Moduleattr is a metadata facility used to annotate software modules with arbitrary attributes. It provides a structured mechanism to attach information such as version, authors, licensing, dependencies, feature flags, and deprecation notices directly to a module, independent of its executable code. The concept is designed to be language-agnostic and is typically implemented as a descriptor, annotation, or header that tooling, compilers, and runtimes can read.

Attributes are usually key-value pairs and support common data types such as strings, numbers, booleans, and lists. They can be read at compile time or at runtime and may influence build configurations, dependency resolution, documentation generation, or feature-flag selection. In some designs, attributes are immutable after module initialization to prevent drift between code and metadata.

Example (pseudo-syntax):

moduleattr.version = "1.2.3"

moduleattr.authors = ["Alice","Bob"]

moduleattr.license = "MIT"

moduleattr.dependencies = ["libA >=2.0","libB"]

moduleattr.deprecated = false

Usage and benefits: Tools and processes can rely on module attributes to verify compatibility, generate API references, enforce licensing, select configuration profiles, or surface deprecation notes and migration guidance.

Relation to other concepts: Module attributes are conceptually related to annotations or metadata blocks in various languages; they do not assume a single standard across ecosystems. Implementation approaches include embedding attributes in a module descriptor, in header comments parsed by a metadata tool, or via reflection APIs at runtime.

See also: Module system, Metadata, Annotations, Reflection.