Loading Spring context with specific classloader

Question

How can I go about loading a Spring context with my own ClassLoader instance?

Answer 1

Many Spring Context Loader (for example ClassPathXmlApplicationContext ) are subclass of DefaultResourceLoader.

DefaultResourceLoader has a constructor where you can specify the Classloader and also has a setClassLoader method.

So it is your task to find a constructor of the Spring Context Loader you need, where you can specify the classloader, or just create it, and then use the set to set the classloader you want.

Answer 2

    final ClassLoader properClassLoader = YourClass.class.getClassLoader();

    appContext = new ClassPathXmlApplicationContext("application-context.xml") {

        protected void initBeanDefinitionReader(XmlBeanDefinitionReader reader) {
            super.initBeanDefinitionReader(reader);
            reader.setValidationMode(XmlBeanDefinitionReader.VALIDATION_NONE);
            reader.setBeanClassLoader(properClassLoader);
            setClassLoader(properClassLoader);

See here if you are doing this for OSGI purposes: How do I use a Spring bean inside an OSGi bundle?