Can Java Really Not Change Its Working Directory?

Can You Really Not Change the Working Directory in Java?

Despite Java's ability to retrieve the current working directory and open files using relative paths, many sources claim that modifying the working directory from within a Java program is impossible. This article aims to address this apparent contradiction.

According to the documentation, System.setProperty("user.dir", "/path/to/dir") should set the current working directory to the specified path. However, as many have observed, this method appears to fail silently.

File(String parent, String child) constructor offers a workaround by enabling the construction of file paths from separate directory and file components, allowing for easier switching of directories.

Another option is to create a script to launch Java from a specific directory. JNI (Java Native Interface) native code can also be used as an alternative solution.

Unfortunately, an OpenJDK bug reported in 2008 regarding this issue was closed as "will not fix," suggesting that Java's inability to change the working directory is intended behavior.

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