protected function generateAnnotations() {

		// set-up the dispatcher
		$dispatcherInstance = Dispatcher::getInstance();

		// note the start of the operation
		$dispatcherInstance->dispatch("builder.generateAnnotationsStart");

		// default var
		$publicDir = Config::getOption("publicDir");

		// encode the content so it can be written out
		$json      = json_encode(Annotations::get());

		// make sure annotations/ exists
		if (!is_dir($publicDir."/annotations")) {
			mkdir($publicDir."/annotations");
		}

		// write out the new annotations.js file
		file_put_contents($publicDir."/annotations/annotations.js","var comments = ".$json.";");

		// note the end of the operation
		$dispatcherInstance->dispatch("builder.generateAnnotationsEnd");

	}