is it a bad idea to put jar files in jre/lib/ext?

i know how to set the classpath to include servlet-api.jar and jsp-api.jar located in the tomcat's installation directory while compiling servlets etc.

but some days ago , an idea came to my mind to put those files in jre/lib/ext and to use a nice java editor like geany (which doesn't give code suggestion while writing the code). so after this i don't have to open terminal , set the classpath etc.

i just want to know that - is there any side-effect of using jar files like this ??

avi sinha

As a general rule, you shouldn't add jars to the JDK/JRE library directories. You can compromise system integrity and you may end up with confusion when different runtimes work differently because they don't all include the same core kits.

There are exceptions to this rule, but they're special cases, normally having to do with special products and services and the supplier will give specific directions on how and where (and when) to break that rule. But for general jars, it's better not to.