What is the correct way to store settings in a Java program?

Question

Java

More precisely, how to properly store settings in a desktop application without using the Preferences class. It is not possible to use it, because it stores settings in the registry, and on some computers the registry may not be available.

Answer 1

Alternatively, store the settings in an xml file, and load them into RAM when the application starts

Answer 2

There are more properties and even more cool thing preferences