JimFS: how to get File from Path

Question

I started using google jimfs and I can't understand how I can get file from path. In source code I see that Path.toFile throws UnsupportedOperationException. But how then can I use it without files? For example if my application need to know if some path is folder or file.

Gregorio

Answer 1

The JSR 203 API has all the tools you need for that; and in this case, the Files class.

In spite of its name, it handles everything Path. For instance, you can use:

Files.isDirectory(thePath)

to test whether a file is a directory. But there are also other ways to test for the same thing.

Cannae

Thank you! But why did they do like that? – Gregorio

Precisely because a Path can be issued from different filesystems. The Path class is "busy" enough as it is without adding more methods to it... – Cannae

Do I understand you right - because Path can be linked to different file systems and File can't? – Gregorio

Yes, exactly. A File can only be issued from what JSR 203 calls the default filesystem -- see FileSystems.getDefault(). In fact, when you do Paths.get(whatever), this is exactly equivalent to FileSystems.getDefault().getPath(whatever). – Cannae

Thank you for such detailed answer! – Gregorio

@JimJim2000: Yeah, as fge indicates, it's basically impossible to get a File object for something other than the default file system, so you can't have an in-memory file system like Jimfs and use File. That's part of the reason the new API (Path, Files, etc.) was created. – Craggy

I don't understand why someonee downvoted my question. Is my question stupid? – Gregorio

@JimJim2000: Maybe because they thought you should have researched the API you were using more before asking a question about it? I don't know... I wouldn't worry about it. – Craggy