I use Common Lisp, which is the code generation tool to end all code generation tools. I used to use the kind of thing you mention, but now it all looks like unpleasant workarounds for the lack of an extensible language and compiler. I realize you may not be on that path, but seriously, since you're interested in these questions, learn it someday. If your experience is like mine, how you think of programming will get much clearer and simpler.