Copy of bug 4199993 in java_solaris category - fixed in Solaris Java,
needs to be fixed in reference platforms.
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If Runtime.exec() locates a directory (with execute permission, I
assume) in the PATH, it will try to execute it and will get an error.
For example, I have a Java program which calls
Runtime.exec("netscape"). If I run this program, it normally starts
netscape. However, if I run this program in a location which contains
a directory called "netscape", I get an error.

From the command line, if I type "netscape" from the same location, it
starts netscape despite the presence of the "netscape" directory.

Here's how to reproduce the problem.

1) Make sure "." is the first thing in your PATH.

2) Create an executable script called "foo" and place it anywhere on
your path except the directory in which we will be performing the
test. The script can be something like:

#!/bin/ksh
print "Hello from foo!"

3) Create a new directory for testing. Compile this Java program in
that directory:

import java.io.*;

public class Main
{

static public void
main(
String[] args)
throws IOException, InterruptedException
{
String[] command = {
"foo"
};

Runtime runtime = Runtime.getRuntime();

Process process = runtime.exec(command);
process.waitFor();

System.out.println("Exit value = " + process.exitValue());
}

}


4) Create a sub-directory called "foo". Make sure it has execute
permission for the owner (this should be the default setting).

5) From the command line, try this sequence, execute "foo" and verify
that the script in step (2) is executed properly.

6) Run the Java program. The output will be:

java.io.IOException: foo: cannot execute
at java.lang.Runtime.exec(Compiled Code)
at java.lang.Runtime.exec(Compiled Code)
at Main.main(Compiled Code)
*** Error code 1

7) Delete the "foo" directory and re-run the program. The output is
now

Exit value = 0

8) Re-create the "foo" directory, but now place it somewhere else on
the PATH, *before* the "foo" script. Re-run the program. The output
is again:

java.io.IOException: foo: cannot execute
at java.lang.Runtime.exec(Compiled Code)
at java.lang.Runtime.exec(Compiled Code)
at Main.main(Compiled Code)
*** Error code 1


The presence of a directory should not affect whether a Java program
can execute a sub-process or not. This is specially bad since the
directory can be anywhere in the PATH ahead of the desired executable.