Hi,
if we allow regular expressions in @Path, than it seems useful to me to
allow @Path("{number:[0-9]+}") on one resource method and
@Path("{varname}") on another, where the second should match all values,
that are not positive integers. Here it is useful to define, that the
resource method or sub res locator with the first annotation is to
prefer for the latter.
Because I have no way in mind to calculate these preferences from the
reg exp metadata it seems useful to me to define a new attribute in
@Path to give preferences by hand, or use a new annotation for it, which
also works if no @Path is given on a non-sub resource method. Another
possibility for the last is @Path(value="", pref=1), which must be
defined as non-sub resource method, also if it contains a @Path
annotation. The type of pref could be a float for example. This allows
it to move a preference between other preferences, also if the
difference is only 1.
This option leave simple things simple and allow complex things.
best regards
Stephan