Slashdot Mirror
Ask Slashdot: How Dead Is Java? (jaxenter.com)
This week HackerRank reported Java is now only the second most popular programming language, finally dropping behind JavaScript in the year 2018.
Now long-time Slashdot reader shanen asks about the rumors that Java is dead -- or is it?
Can you convince me that Java isn't as dead as it seems? It's just playing dead and will spring to life?
This week one Java news site argued that Java-based Minecraft has in fact "spawned a new generation of Java developers," citing an interview with Red Hat's JBoss Middleware CTO. (And he adds that "It's still the dominant programming language in the enterprise, so whether you're building enterprise clients, services or something in between, Java likely features in there somewhere.") Yet the original submission drew some interesting comments:
Now long-time Slashdot reader shanen asks about the rumors that Java is dead -- or is it?
Can you convince me that Java isn't as dead as it seems? It's just playing dead and will spring to life?
This week one Java news site argued that Java-based Minecraft has in fact "spawned a new generation of Java developers," citing an interview with Red Hat's JBoss Middleware CTO. (And he adds that "It's still the dominant programming language in the enterprise, so whether you're building enterprise clients, services or something in between, Java likely features in there somewhere.") Yet the original submission drew some interesting comments:
- "The licensing scheme for Java kills it..."
- "Java programs still are 'the alien on your desktop'. They suck in many ways. Users have learned to avoid them and install 'real programs' instead..."
But what do Slashdot's readers think? Leave your own answers in the comments.
How dead is Java?
No. Oracle killed Java.
Not sure why there's comments of licensing issues... it's a free download from Oracle's website
Well the issue is complex if you stick to Oracle provided binaries, the TL;DR simple answer is to move on to OpenJDK and be done with it.
Java SE 8 which was the last version you could "freely" use in a commercial product, if you go to Oracle's website at the moment, you'll get this message.
Oracle will not post further updates of Java SE 8 to its public download sites for commercial use after January 2019. Customers who need continued access to critical bug fixes and security fixes as well as general maintenance for Java SE 8 or previous versions can get long term support through Oracle Java SE Subscription or Oracle Java SE Desktop Subscription. For more information, and details on how to receive longer term support for Oracle JDK 8, please see the Oracle Java SE Support Roadmap.
Going forward you now have two options. Oracle OpenJDK which is an open source JDK that you may use as you see fit, the end. Oracle JDK, which starting at version 11 is Oracle OpenJDK plus some Oracle enhancements. You may freely download Oracle JDK and use it for development and testing, however, Oracle JDK cannot be used for production or commercial use without being anally raped by Oracle, so yeah you cannot download Oracle JDK and just use it without being in some degree of violation of Larry Ellison's 37th yacht fund somewhere in the fine print of that download. Additionally, Oracle has gotten a little blood thirsty lately so use Oracle JDK without a license at your own damn risk.
So you might ask, so if we have OpenJDK, who would want Oracle JDK? The important thing to remember that OpenJDK provided by Oracle is Oracle's build of OpenJDK, which may or may not have all the most recent patches. Basically, Oracle's OpenJDK is on par patch wise the day a new version hits with Oracle JDK. So when Java 11 hit, that day Oracle JDK and Oracle OpenJDK were functionally the same. However any patches that Oracle JDK has received since that day, Oracle OpenJDK hasn't or might have, it's basically "meh we patch it when we patch it." However, Oracle isn't the only game in the OpenJDK build world.
Here's a post about all the different folks building OpenJDK. I suggest OpenJDK from AdpotOpenJDK or if you are using Linux, BSD, Unix, etc Just use the OpenJDK that your vendor provides, they usually keep it reasonably up to date. What the change does do, is make everyone change their old habit of just going to Oracle's site, download their JDK, and go from there. Instead, just go grab a non-Oracle build, beside we shouldn't be frequenting Oracle anyway.
Outside of that, Java is still Java and unsurprisingly Oracle is still shooting themselves in the foot. The most recent move with Java 9, 10, and 11 only further cements folks' decisions to leave Oracle as their provider of a Java implementation.