@Resource.lookup and classpath

JavaEE 6 added a new lookup attribute to @javax.annotation.Resource. So one can inject resources like this:

@Resource(lookup = "java:module/env/rate")
private String rate;

Compile the classes:

javac -cp "$GLASSFISH_HOME/modules/*" *Bean.java

EmailBean.java:18: cannot find symbol
symbol  : method lookup()
location: @interface javax.annotation.Resource
   @Resource(lookup = "java:module/env/rate")
             ^
1 error

In GlassFish, all JavaEE classes are in various jars under $GLASSFISH_HOME/modules and its subdirectories. It failed because version 1.0 of javax.annotation.Resource class (and other javax.annotation.* classes) are included in Java SE 6. The use of lookup attribute requires version 1.1 of Common Annotation jar, which is included in JavaEE 6.

To fix it, simply add a -Djava.endorsed.dirs sysprop to override those classes in Java SE 6:

javac -cp "$GLASSFISH_HOME/modules/*" -Djava.endorsed.dirs=$GLASSFISH_HOME/modules/endorsed  *Bean.java

In Eclipse IDE, you just need to put $GLASSFISH_HOME/modules/endorsed/javax.annotation.jar before JRE System Library when configuring Java Build Path.

This should also work with any compliant appserver, though actual jar name and location may vary. The same -Djava.endorsed.dirs sysprop should also be used when running the app.