InfoWorld·2yJDK 24: The new features in Java 24
JDK 24, set for release on March 18, 2025, will include improvements to the G1 garbage collector and introduce warnings for unsafe uses of the Java Native Interface (JNI). Other potential features could follow previews from JDK 23, such as enhancements to the class-file API, stream gatherers, structured concurrency, and the vector API. JDK 24 will be a non-long-term support release, receiving only six months of Premier-level support.
Faun·2yJava 23
Java 23, released on September 17, 2024, introduces numerous features enhancing developer productivity, performance, and accessibility. Key updates include pattern matching for primitive types, a Class-File API, Markdown support in JavaDoc comments, vector API improvements, and more efficient garbage collection with ZGC. It also simplifies modular programming and lowers the entry barrier for beginners with implicit class declarations and instance main methods. Safety in concurrent programming is improved through structured concurrency and scoped values.
Awesome Java Newsletter·2yClass File API: Not Your Everyday Java API
The Class-File API, introduced in Java 22 and evolved in JDK 23, is designed for manipulating Java bytecode, specifically targeting developers who work on frameworks, tools, or advanced performance tuning. It aims to reduce reliance on third-party libraries like ASM by providing a more modern, efficient, and type-safe interface. Key features include lazy parsing and a focus on immutability and composability. While it offers significant benefits, broad adoption may take time due to the entrenched use of existing libraries.
InfoWorld·2yJava proposal would shrink JDK by 25%
An OpenJDK proposal aims to reduce the Java Development Kit (JDK) size by about 25% using the jlink tool to create custom runtime images without JMOD files. This would enhance Java performance in cloud environments by improving efficiency in copying JDK-inclusive container images over networks. The proposal introduces a build-time configuration option, --enable-linkable-runtime, to achieve this reduction.