java - How to reload properties with Spring?

Question

I'm using properties file with Spring 3. When Spring initializes its contex it loads the properties file and puts it in all beans with @Value annotation.

I want to have a possibility to update some properties in a file, and expose a JMX on the server that will reload the new properties to Spring - without restarting the server, and reloading its context.

Can I implement this by using some Spring method to reload properties and populate them to all beans, or should I write something like this by my own?

Answer 1

I would suggest replacing the java.util.Properties with a PropertiesConfiguration from the Apache Commons Configuration project. It supports automatic reloading, either by detecting when the file changes, or by triggering through JMX.