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1Java Moving Forward With Faster Pace Release Schedule, Modular System
Among the key messages and themes that emerged at the JavaOne 2017 conference, held in San Francisco Oct. 1 to 5, is that the Java community is moving ahead faster now than at any other point in the popular programming language’s history. The new Java 9 Standard Edition (SE) and Java Developer Kit are now available to provide developers with many new features. Among the major enhancements in Java 9 is a new module system that has been integrated through a decade long effort called Project Jigsaw. Java is also set to evolve faster, with a new release cycle that will bring updates ever six months. Java Enterprise Edition (EE) is also moving forward under a new model that will be operated by the open-source Eclipse Foundation. We take a look at the latest Java developments in this slide show.
2Java 9 Is Compatible with Java 8
A hallmark of Java since its’ earliest days has been backwards compatibility and stability. Mark Reinhold Chief Architect, Java Platform Group at Oracle stated during his JavaOne keynote on Oct. 2 that “if your code only uses standard Java SE 8 APIs then it will most likely work on JDK 9 without change.”
3Project Jigsaw Lands in Java 9
4Java 9 Now has a Modular Structure
5Thanks to Project Jigsaw, there is now a simpler module system in Java 9 that developers can rely on to build and compile code. The modular approach also means that developers can choose to include the module they need, rather than being required to use an entire stack.
6Java Gets a Shell
7Oracle Speeds Up the Release Pace With Java 18.3
The next major release of Java has been renamed from Java 10 to Java 18.3 and will be out in March 2018. Going forward Java will be released on a six month cadence, introducing features as they are ready. Among the new capabilities set to land in upcoming Java releases is Project Valhalla which introduces specialized generics and value types to Java.
8Java Is Now Serverless
9Java EE is Now EE4J at Eclipse
The Java Enterprise Edition (EE) development is now moving to the Eclipse Foundation and being renamed EE4J. Among the supporters of the EE4J effort are IBM and Red Hat.