Question

I have a simple java application that loads a properties file from the current package.

this.getClass().getResourceAsStream("props.properties");

This works fine when the property file I want is in the current package. However, I want to package this application as a JAR and define and override with a new properties file where I use it. Is there a way to load the first resource named “props.properties” that is on the classpath?

I want it to be as easy to override the properties file via command line:

java.exe -classpath props.properties;myJar.jar com.test.MyApp

I don’t want to have to unpack the JAR and modify the properties file to change something. I feel like I’m missing something obvious…

Answer 1

If all else fails you could use two different file names, say props-default.properties inside myJar.jar and props.properties to override on the command-line. In your code, you’d try loading the props.properties file first and fallback to props-default.properties if it wasn’t found.