How Can I Change the Current Working Directory in Java?

Changing the Current Working Directory in Java: A Persistent Enigma

Despite the convenience of retrieving the current working directory through Java's System.getProperty("user.dir"), attempts to modify it have proven futile. Setting "user.dir" through System.setProperty() or command-line arguments like "java -Duser.dir=..." fails silently, leaving the directory unaltered.

Java's File(String parent, String child) constructor offers a workaround by enabling the separate construction of directory and file paths. This allows for easier swapping of directory paths.

In lieu of a pure Java solution, one could resort to alternative approaches:

• Create a script to execute Java from the desired directory.
• Utilize JNI native code to manipulate the working directory at the system level.

It's noteworthy that an OpenJDK bug related to this issue was closed in 2008 as "will not fix," indicating that Java may not offer a reliable way to change the working directory.

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