Where Does Eclipse Store Java Launch Configuration File Paths?

In Eclipse, where can I find the file that stores the launch configurations for my Java projects?

Eclipse maintains launch configurations for Java projects in a specific file format and location known as '.launch' files. These configurations contain information about runtime parameters, including program arguments.

// Example contents of a .launch file:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<launchConfiguration type="org.eclipse.jdt.launching.localJavaApplication">
   <stringAttribute key="org.eclipse.jdt.launching.mainType" value="com.example.Main"/>
   <stringAttribute key="org.eclipse.jdt.launching.programArguments" value="output_from_B"/>
</launchConfiguration>

Causes

• Eclipse uses .launch files to store run configurations, and these files are typically located within your project folder in the workspace.
• The 'Run Configurations' dialog in Eclipse allows setting up various parameters, but it’s stored as a separate configuration file and not directly in the standard Eclipse project files.

Solutions

• To manage your launch configurations, locate the '.launch' files for your project. These files are usually found in the project’s root directory or in the '.settings' folder within the project directory.
• You can directly edit these '.launch' files or use the 'Run Configurations' dialog in Eclipse to set up appropriate arguments that can then be referenced in your configurations.

Mistake: Not knowing where to find the saved launch configurations.

Solution: Remember that configurations are saved in .launch files either in the project’s root directory or the '.settings' folder.

Mistake: Modifying run configurations directly without cloning.

Solution: Create a new launch configuration based on existing ones to avoid overwrites. Use version control for better management.