# Interface Plugin

public interface Plugin
The interface for a javac plug-in.

The javac plug-in mechanism allows a user to specify one or more plug-ins on the javac command line, to be started soon after the compilation has begun. Plug-ins are identified by a user-friendly name. Each plug-in that is started will be passed an array of strings, which may be used to provide the plug-in with values for any desired options or other arguments.

Plug-ins are located via a `ServiceLoader`, using the same class path as annotation processors (i.e. `ANNOTATION_PROCESSOR_PATH` or `-processorpath`).

It is expected that a typical plug-in will simply register a `TaskListener` to be informed of events during the execution of the compilation, and that the rest of the work will be done by the task listener.

Since:
  1.8

- ## Method Summary

  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `default boolean`
  `autoStart()`
  Returns whether or not this plugin should be automatically started, even if not explicitly specified in the command-line options.
  `String`
  `getName()`
  Returns the user-friendly name of this plug-in.
  `void`
  `init(JavacTask task, String... args)`
  Initializes the plug-in for a given compilation task.

- ## Method Details

  - ### getName

    String getName()
    Returns the user-friendly name of this plug-in.
    Returns:
      the user-friendly name of the plug-in

  - ### init

    void init(JavacTask task, String... args)
    Initializes the plug-in for a given compilation task.
    Parameters:
      `task` - The compilation task that has just been started
      `args` - Arguments, if any, for the plug-in

  - ### autoStart

    default boolean autoStart()
    Returns whether or not this plugin should be automatically started, even if not explicitly specified in the command-line options.

    This method will be called by javac for all plugins located by the service loader. If the method returns `true`, the plugin will be `initialized` with an empty array of string arguments if it is not otherwise initialized due to an explicit command-line option.

    Returns:
      whether or not this plugin should be automatically started
    Since:
      14