ResourceHelper

ResourceHelper locates resources on the Java classpath. Constructing it without a target class resolves names from the classpath root; constructing it with a class follows Class.getResource rules.

String text = new ResourceHelper("config/application.properties").toString();
Properties properties = new ResourceHelper("config/application.properties").getProperties();

InputStream stream = new ResourceHelper("config.properties", MyService.class).getStream();

getStream() works for resources packaged in JAR files. getPath(boolean) and list(Consumer<File>) require a filesystem-backed resource and may not work for jar: URLs. getJarDir() returns the directory containing the running JAR when that location is available. Close streams returned by getStream() yourself.