/**
  * Loads default values of common parameters from a properties file searching the working
  * directory and user's home.
  *
  * @return default configuration
  */
 private static Properties loadDefaults() {
   final String[] dirs = new String[] {"user.dir", "user.home"};
   final Properties props = new Properties();
   for (final String d : dirs) {
     String path = System.getProperty(d) + File.separator + DEFAULT_PROPERTIES;
     File f = new File(path);
     if (f.exists() && f.canRead()) {
       try {
         FileInputStream is = new FileInputStream(f);
         props.load(is);
         l.debug("Successfully red the gdi configuration from '" + f.getAbsolutePath() + "'.");
         return props;
       } catch (IOException e) {
         l.warn(
             "Readable gdi configuration '"
                 + f.getAbsolutePath()
                 + "' found be error occurred reading it.");
         l.debug("Error reading gdi configuration '" + f.getAbsolutePath() + "': ", e);
       }
     }
   }
   return props;
 }