A comprehensive retrospective review of Java's evolution from 1998 to 2025, rating major language features and library changes across 26 years. The author evaluates key additions like generics, lambdas, streams, records, and pattern matching, providing personal ratings and commentary on their impact and usefulness. Notable
Table of contents
Java 2 – 1998Java 1.4 – 2002Java 5 – 2004Java 7 – 2011Java 8 – 2014Java 9 – 2017Java 10 – 2018Java 11 – 2018Java 12 – 2019Java 13 – 2019Java 14 – 2020Java 15 – 2020Java 16 – 2021Java 17 – 2021Java 18 – 2022Java 19 – 2022Java 21 – 2023Java 22 – 2024Java 23 – 2024Java 24 – 2024Java 25 – 2025Sort: