ADDITIONAL SYSTEM INFORMATION :
openjdk 25-ea 2025-09-16
OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 25-ea+19-2255)
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM (build 25-ea+19-2255, mixed mode, sharing)

PRETTY_NAME="Ubuntu 24.04.2 LTS"
NAME="Ubuntu"
VERSION_ID="24.04"
VERSION="24.04.2 LTS (Noble Numbat)"
VERSION_CODENAME=noble
ID=ubuntu
ID_LIKE=debian
HOME_URL="https://www.ubuntu.com/"
SUPPORT_URL="https://help.ubuntu.com/"
BUG_REPORT_URL="https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/"
PRIVACY_POLICY_URL="https://www.ubuntu.com/legal/terms-and-policies/privacy-policy"
UBUNTU_CODENAME=noble
LOGO=ubuntu-logo

5.15.167.4-microsoft-standard-WSL2 (Windows 11 WSL)

---

openjdk 21.0.3 2024-04-16 LTS
OpenJDK Runtime Environment Temurin-21.0.3+9 (build 21.0.3+9-LTS)
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM Temurin-21.0.3+9 (build 21.0.3+9-LTS, mixed mode, sharing)

Windows 11

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
Currently, the -d option of jwebserver does not accept relative paths.

```
$ jwebserver -d build
Error: server config failed: Path is not absolute: build
```

However, this is not convenient or friendly because most other CLI commands accept relative paths as arguments and the workaround is not cross-platform or can leak your personal information. You have to choose the appropriate option from the following to get the current directory:

Windows + CMD (e.g. Node.js npm scripts): %cd%
Windows + PowerShell / non-Windows: $PWD

For example, if you want to use jwebserver in package.json (Node.js) without additional dependencies, Windows users will be discriminated if you write:

```json
{
  "scripts":
    "dev": "some-command",
    "build": "some-command",
    "serve", "jwebserver -d $PWD/build"
  }
}
```

If you replace `$PWD` with your user name, your privacy information will be exposed and this script cannot used by the other people. If you replace `$PWD/` with `%cd%\`, non-Windows users cannot run `node --run serve`.

I will submit this report as a bug because there is no specific stipulation that jwebserver must accept only absolute paths as -d option in the text of JEP-408 or JDK-8245095. If you think this "behavior" is stipulated in the JEP, you can convert this report to a feature.


STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
mkdir build
jwebserver -d build

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
Binding to loopback by default. For all interfaces use "-b 0.0.0.0" or "-b ::".
Serving /home/directory_of_you/build and subdirectories on 127.0.0.1 port 8000
URL http://127.0.0.1:8000/
ACTUAL -
Error: server config failed: Path is not absolute: build