External Java library management, looking for hints, tips and good practices.

Hello steve_rivers 

a: 1...  Your method to manage libraries is as good as any.  I don't think there is a ReadyAPI feature to do that.  I just have a folder with .jar files that I rely on and have a batch file to run that copies them to new installations.

a:  2..  I am not aware of package management tools strictly for ReadyAPI.  With some more digging, you might find one generic enough or able to re-purpose for ReadyAPI...  Maybe Maven configured to meet your needs.

Sorry about no definitive answer.  question 1 is the closest answer I can relate to.

Regards,

Todd

Sample batch file that I run whenever I update/new install...

ReadyAPIJarFilesToNewVersion.bat

:: ***
:: Run this batch by right-clicking its filename and choosing "Run as Administrator" since
:: it is copying files to a Windows protected directory.
:: ***

:: This batch file will copy desired JAR files from base source location to a 
:: directory of newly installed ReadyAPI.  

:: A base source location is defined that contains extra JAR files for use in 
:: ReadyAPI.  They are mostly static, but some need to be updated occasionally,
:: such as the Selenium driver for chrome.  Update those base JAR files as 
:: needed to support the projects you create.

:::: Change the line below to reflect the location you want files copied to...
::  not needed if going to latest installed version
::set destinateDirectory="C:\Program Files\SmartBear\ReadyAPI-3.10.2\lib\"

:: ############ Latest version ReadyAPI testrunner location
:: This finds ReadyAPI testrunner location without need to hardcode.
FOR /F "delims=" %%i IN ('dir "c:\Program Files\SmartBear\ReadyAPI-3*" /b /ad-h /t:c /od') DO SET readyapiversion=%%i

set destinateDirectory="C:\Program Files\SmartBear\%readyapiversion%\lib\"
set sourceDirectory=C:\Program Files\SmartBear\ReadyAPI-Local-JARS\

copy "%sourceDirectory%byte-buddy-1.8.15.jar" %destinateDirectory%
copy "%sourceDirectory%client-combined-3.141.59.jar" %destinateDirectory%
copy "%sourceDirectory%commons-exec-1.3.jar" %destinateDirectory%
copy "%sourceDirectory%commons-validator-1.7.jar" %destinateDirectory%
copy "%sourceDirectory%derby.jar" %destinateDirectory%
copy "%sourceDirectory%java-client-7.4.1.jar" %destinateDirectory%
copy "%sourceDirectory%okhttp-3.11.0.jar" %destinateDirectory%
copy "%sourceDirectory%okio-1.14.0.jar" %destinateDirectory%
copy "%sourceDirectory%jfreechart-1.5.3.jar" %destinateDirectory%

pause