How can I write maven build to add resources to classpath?

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A cleaner alternative of putting your config file into a subfolder of src/main/resources would be to enhance your classpath locations. This is extremely easy to do with Maven.

For instance, place your property file in a new folder src/main/config, and add the following to your pom:

 <build>
    <resources>
        <resource>
            <directory>src/main/config</directory>
        </resource>
    </resources>
 </build>

From now, every files files under src/main/config is considered as part of your classpath (note that you can exclude some of them from the final jar if needed: just add in the build section:

    <plugins>
        <plugin>
            <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
            <artifactId>maven-jar-plugin</artifactId>
            <configuration>
                <excludes>
                    <exclude>my-config.properties</exclude>
                </excludes>
            </configuration>
        </plugin>
    </plugins>

so that my-config.properties can be found in your classpath when you run your app from your IDE, but will remain external from your jar in your final distribution).

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