Get the application's path
language-agnostic, path
Solution
In Java the calls
System.getProperty("user.dir")
and
new java.io.File(".").getAbsolutePath();
return the current working directory.
The call to
getClass().getProtectionDomain().getCodeSource().getLocation().getPath();
returns the path to the JAR file containing the current class, or the CLASSPATH element (path) that yielded the current class if you're running directly from the filesystem.
Example:
Your application is located at
C:\MyJar.jar
Open the shell (cmd.exe) and `cd` to C:\test\subdirectory.
Start the application using the command `java -jar C:\MyJar.jar`.
The first two calls return 'C:\test\subdirectory'; the third call returns 'C:\MyJar.jar'.
When running from a filesystem rather than a JAR file, the result will be the path to the root of the generated class files, for instance
c:\eclipse\workspaces\YourProject\bin\
The path does not include the package directories for the generated class files.
A complete example to get the application directory without .jar file name, or the corresponding path to the class files if running directly from the filesystem (e.g. when debugging):
String applicationDir = getClass().getProtectionDomain().getCodeSource().getLocation().getPath();
if (applicationDir.endsWith(".jar"))
{
applicationDir = new File(applicationDir).getParent();
}
// else we already have the correct answer
Problem
I've recently searched how I could get the application's directory in Java. I've finally found the answer but I've needed surprisingly long because searching for such a generic term isn't easy. I think it would be a good idea to compile a list of how to achieve this in multiple languages. Feel free to up/downvote if you (don't) like the idea and please contribute if you like it. Clarification: There's a fine distinction between the directory that contains the executable file and the current working directory (given by `pwd` under Unix). I was originally interested in the former but feel free to post methods for determining the latter as well (clarifying which one you mean).