Best Practice? Where do I put configuration parameters for my own application in Struts2?

Question

In Java servlet, there is <context-param>. In desktop applications, we usually define our own configuration file.

Where should I put configuration parameters for my Struts2 application? For example, my application needs to set a time limit for user input, or save and read files stored somewhere, or the maximum time the user can type a wrong password, etc. I want those things configurable.

What's the way people usually do it in Struts2 applications? Any best practice?

Answer 1

If you are familiar with the ServletContext approach that you mentioned, you can stick with that. In your web.xml, just add your <context-param>s.

Then, to get the ServletContext in your actions, just implement ServletContextAware and it will be automatically injected for you.

Here's a brief example:

web.xml

<context-param>
  <param-name>someSetting</param-name>
  <param-value>someValue</param-value>
</context-param>

Your Action

public class YourAction extends ActionSupport implements ServletContextAware {
  private ServletContext servletContext;

  @Override
  public String execute() throws Exception {
    String someValue = (String) servletContext.getAttribute("someSetting");

    return SUCCESS;
  }

  @Override
  public void setServletContext(final ServletContext context) {
    this.servletContext = servletContext;
  }
}