The XML config:
Code:
<util:map id="simpleConfiguration">
    <entry key="item1" value="value1" />
</util:map>
The class and instantiation
Code:
@Component
class Foobar {
    @Resource(name='simpleConfiguration')
    private configuration
}

Foobar fb = new Foobar();
This is pretty much what I am doing. I know that the component scan is working, other classes in the same namespace are fine.

the configuration property of Foobar is null, and I don't know why, but I suspect it's because what I'm doing to create an instance of Foobar is too easy

I am sorry if this has been asked before, I'm not clear what to search for. Instantiating @components didn't really reveal much

thanks in advance