Java SE platform: What features the Java update brings and the different Java versions 11, 17 LTS, 19 LTS

In this article, you will learn basic information about the origins of Java SE and the features of its latest versions. Java’s ability to improve performance, stability, and security has made it the world’s most popular programming language. According to an IDC report, it is used by more than 10 million developers, representing approximately 33% of software engineers worldwide. Since its release, there are officially 21 supported versions of Java SE released. In this article, we’ll take a look at what features each version of Java brings.

History of Java language: Java platforms and their use

Java is a programming language and platform that was developed in 1995 by Sun Microsystems, a subsidiary of Oracle. It provides a platform for developing application software and deploying it in a multi-platform computing environment. James Gosling is considered to be the father of the Java programming language, who, along with members of the Java team, also called the Green Team, began working on its development in the early 1990s. The aim of this project was to develop a language for digital devices such as set-top boxes, televisions, etc. Nowadays, Java programming language is used in the development of Internet applications, mobile applications, computer games, e-business solutions, etc. Since its inception, the Java programming language has undergone many enhancements and extensions that have provided new programming capabilities and improved the user-friendliness of the user interface. Java versions are constantly evolving, but in general we can define Java benefits in four platforms namely Java SE, Java EE, Java ME and Java FX, where each of them brings specific benefits depending on their application.

Java SE Platform

Java Standard Edition, or Java SE for short, is the core Java programming platform. We can run software on it or use it to develop desktop and server applications. The Java SE platform uses the Java programming language and is part of the family of software platforms with the same name. Java SE provides all the data structure libraries and APIs, such as java.lang, java.io, java.math, java.net, java.util, etc.

What are data structure libraries for

The data structure libraries contain predefined classes provided by the Java System. There are thousands of library classes, each containing different functions. Thus, these classes provide efficient support to programmers in developing their programs. They simplify and streamline the work.

Java Application Programming Interface (API)

Java Application Programming Interface – API, is a list of all the classes that are part of the Java development kit (JDK) that are specific to the Java language and program. Thus, it includes all Java packages, classes, and interfaces along with their methods, fields, and author comments. These prescribed Java program classes provide the developer with a huge amount of functionality that can be used for Java programming.

Main advantages of Java SE platform

• It provides opportunities to use the principles of object-oriented programming and superclasses, which are also used for networking, abstraction, higher security, access to databases, GUI (Graphical User Interface) development and analysis in formats such as XML.
• It contains a Collectors class that allows you to accumulate elements into collections and summarize data according to various criteria.
• Provides a Base64 class for encryption and decryption.
• It has APIs that enable more efficient computation and programming.
• A new class java.net.URLPermission has been added to the Java SE platform, which represents the permission to access a resource defined from a given URL.

However, in addition to the regular Java programming language, there is another specific model of Java, which is Java LTS.

What is Java LTS 17 and how is it different from regular Java

Java developers are working hard on new and improved versions of Java SE to improve the functionality of the system. Since its inception, Java versions have been released irregularly, so in 2018, Oracle decided to change the regularity of releasing new versions of the Java SE platform. Instead of the original release interval of every two to three years (which often became every fourth year), a new six-month release pattern for classic Java SE platform releases has been adopted, with a long time support (LTS) release coming out every three years. The first version of Java released under this model was Java SE 11. The advantage of LTS releases is that organizations can count on Java releases being available for at least eight years, giving developers plenty of time to consolidate tools and migrate to another LTS version of Java several years later. The LTS model allows technology providers to focus on specific releases while supporting their products over the long term. Each version only receives performance, stability, and security updates during its lifetime, so there should be no major changes to individual versions of Java.

Java latest versions

Almost two decades have passed since the first Java JDK Beta was released in 1995. Since then, 21 Java versions have been created. The first LTS Java version with long-term support was Java SE 7, released in July 2011. The next version – Java SE 8 – was released in March 2014. This version includes some features originally designed for Java SE 7, but were only added in Java SE 8. These include features such as:

• support for Lambda expressions at the language level,
• the ability to embed JavaScript code in applications,
• annotation of Java versions,
• providing date and time APIs,
• repetitive annotations,
• running JavaFX applications.

The next available versions are Java SE 11 LTS and Java SE 17 LTS, with the next release – Java SE 21 LTS – expected in September 2023.

Java SE 11 LTS version

Java 11 is the third LTS release of Java after Java 8. You can download and use this release for free, but only for non-commercial development. For commercial application development, you must purchase a license from Oracle’s official website. Java SE subscribers will receive JDK 11 updates until at least September 2026. The Java SE 11 LTS release brings several important features for software developers. One of the main changes is that you don’t have to compile the Java source file first using the javac compiler. You can run the file directly with the Java command and it will compile implicitly. This feature falls under JEP 330.

Other important features in Java SE 11:

• New helper methods in the String class, such as isBlank(), lines(), strip(), stripLeading(), stripTrailing(), and repeat(int);
• Local variable syntax for Lambda parameters;
• JEP 309. Dynamic class constants. Extend support for a new form of the CONSTANT_Dynamic constant field. The aim of this JEP is to reduce costs;
• JEP 321. HTTP client. The new API supports both HTTP/1.1 and HTTP/2 and is designed to improve the overall performance of sending client requests and receiving server responses;
• JEP 328. Flight Recorder. JFR is a profiling tool used to collect diagnostic data from a running Java application;
• Simplified reading and writing of String using readString(), writeString().

Java version SE 17 LTS

An important change within Oracle JDK 17 was the introduction of new and more simple licensing terms that will allow companies to use Oracle JDK 17 free of charge for at least the next three years. Java SE subscribers will gain access to Oracle Java SE support and commercial features such as GraalVM Enterprise, Java Management Service and Advanced Management Console. Java 17 LTS represents the latest release of long-term support for the Java SE platform to date and includes 14 new features that will make the work of developers worldwide easier and more efficient. Among the most significant changes in the LTS version of Java 17 are:

• JEP 356: Improved pseudorandom number generators. The release provides new interface types and implementations for pseudorandom number generators (PRNGs) to eliminate code duplication in existing PRNG classes.
• JEP 382: New macOS rendering channel. An internal rendering channel for Java 2D for macOS using the Apple Metal API as an alternative to the existing channel that uses the deprecated Apple OpenGL API.
• JEP 403: Heavily encapsulated JDK internals of all JDK internals, except for critical internal APIs such as sun.misc.Unsafe. It will no longer be possible to remove the strong encapsulation of internals using a single command line.
• JEP 411: Removing Security Manager.
• JEP 415: Context-specific deserialization filters. This change allows applications to configure context-specific and dynamically selected deserialization filters through a filter factory within the JVM that is invoked to select a filter for each individual deserialization operation.

Latest version of Java SE 19

This release is the tenth feature release delivered within the six-month release frequency. This level of predictability allows developers to easily manage the release of upgrades, but it should be noted that Oracle JDK 19 is not a long term support (LTS) release. Changes in the latest Java SE 19 release include a variety of enhancements, ranging from the incorporation of significant new features to small improvements to routine maintenance. The updates and enhancements to Java SE 19 are as follows:

• • JEP 405. Record patterns. This enhancement allows users to insert record patterns and type patterns to create a powerful, declarative and composable form of data navigation and processing;
  • JEP 422. Linux/RISC-V Port paves the way for easier Linux/RISC-V implementations by integrating this port into the main JDK repository;
  • JEP 427. Pattern matching for switches enables pattern matching for expressions and switch statements by allowing expression testing against a number of patterns;
  • JEP 424. API for foreign functions and memory allows Java programs to more easily interact with code and data outside of the Java runtime.
  • JEP 426. Vector API provides better performance compared to equivalent scalar computations by expressing vector computations that compile reliably on the run into vector instructions on supported CPU architectures.

What is Java Development Kit LTS?

Java JDK LTS stands for Java Development Kit Long Term Support. It is a development environment for creating Java applications that offers long-term support and updates. Java JDK LTS means that a given version of the JDK will be supported for at least four years after its release. Support and regular bug fixes, security and performance improvements, and compatibility with new platforms. There are currently three versions of the Java JDK LTS: JDK 8 LTS, Java JDK 11 LTS, and JDK 17 LTS. JDK 19 non LTS(Java Development Kit 19 is not Long Term Support) is released as a Standard Java release September 2022.

JDK 19 vs JDK 17

JDK 19 and JDK 17 are two versions of the Java Development Kit that differ in some of the main features: the Java 19 non LTS is the version of the Java 19 JDK that was released in September 2022, while JDK 17 is the previous version that was released in September 2021. JDK 19 non LTS has some new features such as pattern matching, virtual threads, sealed classes, and records that are not available in JDK 17. Java LTS 17 includes some features that were introduced in previous feature releases, such as text blocks, switch expressions, var, and modules.

Oracle has announced plans to reduce the time between future LTS Java releases from three years to two years. The next release of Java SE LTS should therefore be Java 21 LTS, which will be released in September 2023. The new Java will bring even more innovative features, and Java programming will once again be slightly more advanced. This version should provide support until at least 2031. At msg life Slovakia, we currently use Java SE 11 (LTS) for Java programming, which has been very successful for us. However, we will soon be switching to Java SE 17 (LTS) with 14 new features to make our work more efficient, better and faster, and you can try this version of Java too. See our previous articles on Java programming:

• Coding tips for beginners
• Java coding tips
• Java vs. Golang vs. Python

Whether you’re an experienced Java Developer Senior or a passionate Java Junior Software Developer, there’s always a place for you on our team. Join us, improve your Java programming skills and work with us to develop innovative software solutions for financial and insurance market leaders. Check out our job offers and send us your CV!