apache / apache/netbeans

Moving Netbeans app after first launch causes errors in IDE

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#8,127 0 comments 1 reaction 0 assignees View on GitHub
kind:bug needs:triage
Dominant language
Java
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Description

### Apache NetBeans version

Apache NetBeans 24

### What happened

Running on macOS:

If the Netbeans application bundle is moved to a new directory after it has already been launched at least once then the IDE will start reporting errors in the notifications window.

The log file shows that netbeans is attempting to load files from the prior directory location.

### Language / Project Type / NetBeans Component

_No response_

### How to reproduce

1) Install netbeans
2) Launch netbeans
3) Close netbeans
4) Move netbeans application bundle to another directory
5) Launch netbeans

Netbeans will launch at step 5. However it will report that it has detected an error. The log files show that it cannot find netbean jar files located in the original install location.

### Did this work correctly in an earlier version?

No / Don't know

### Operating System

macOS 15.2 (24C101)

### JDK

openjdk version "22.0.2"

### Apache NetBeans packaging

Apache NetBeans provided installer

### Anything else

The issue seems to be cached configuration information that continues to point to the old install location found in the file:

{$USER}/Library/Application Support/NetBeans/24/build.properties

If the folder containing the build.properties file is removed (eg .../24) then netbeans no longer reports any errors after it is re-launched and rebuilds the cache.

### Are you willing to submit a pull request?

No

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Start by reproducing the macOS launch and relocation sequence, then inspect ~/Library/Application Support/NetBeans/24/build.properties, which the report identifies as retaining the old installation path. Done means moving the application bundle and relaunching it no longer produces missing-JAR errors or notifications about the previous location.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
java, macos
Domain
desktop-dev, devtools
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
38/100

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