Java 17: What’s New and Why You Should Upgrade

Records and Pattern Matching

Records and pattern matching are new features introduced in Java 17. Classes that are primarily used to store data can be declared succinctly using records, which will automatically generate common methods like constructors, getters, and equals/hashCode. When working with conditional statements and instances of checks, pattern matching enables more expressive and condensed code.

Sealed Classes

Better control over inheritance is provided by sealed classes, which restrict the subclasses that can extend them. Developers can ensure more reliable and safe programming by clearly stating which classes can inherit from a sealed class. Better code maintenance and a lower chance of unexpected class additions are both facilitated by sealed classes.

Foreign Function and Memory API

The Foreign Function and Memory API is a new feature introduced in Java 17 that is still in development. This API makes it easier and more regulated for Java programs to communicate with native code and libraries. It improves interoperability with other programming languages by offering a safer and more efficient way to access native memory and call native functions.

New macOS Rendering Pipeline

A new graphics system for macOS based on Apple’s Metal framework is included in Java 17. This pipeline enhances the graphics performance of Java programs running on macOS platforms, producing animations that are more fluid and responsive and provide a better overall user experience.

Strong Encapsulation of JDK Internals

The platform’s security and maintainability are still being worked on with Java 17. Strong JDK internal encapsulation further limits access to internal APIs, ensuring that developers only use supported and open APIs. By doing so, dependence on internal implementation details that might alter between Java versions is reduced.

Deprecation of the Applet API

Previously used to create Java applets, the Applet API has been deprecated in Java 17. Due to security issues and the move towards contemporary web technologies, this API has been gradually phased out. The migration of developers’ applets to alternative platforms like Java Web Start or contemporary web frameworks is encouraged.

Enhanced Pseudo-Random Number Generators

New classes and procedures for producing fictitious random numbers are included in Java 17. The quality and security of random values used in applications are improved by these improvements, which give more control and flexibility over random number creation.

Improved Performance and Stability

Java strives to increase stability and performance with each new release. Java 17 includes several improvements and bug fixes that lead to quicker execution times, a smaller memory footprint, and improved dependability. Your apps may perform better overall if you upgrade to Java 17.

Long-Term Support (LTS) Release

Because Java 17 is an LTS release, Oracle will provide long-term maintenance and upgrades for it. LTS releases are more stable and dependable than other versions since they are normally supported for a longer time. By upgrading to Java 17, you can take advantage of the newest features and enjoy ongoing support.

Ecosystem Adoption and Community

The developer, library, and framework communities for Java are thriving and active. After Java 17 is released, the ecosystem will progressively integrate the new features and improvements, increasing cooperation opportunities and using community-driven ideas. By updating, you may benefit from the developing ecosystem and keep current with the Java community.

Enhanced Security Features

The platform is additionally fortified against potential flaws and assaults thanks to the enhanced security features introduced in Java 17. Improvements in fields like safe random number generation, cryptography, and communications security are included in this. Your applications will be constructed on a more secure foundation if you upgrade to Java 17.

Text Blocks

In Java 15, text blocks were a preview feature; by Java 17, they were a standard feature. Text blocks replace the need for laborious concatenation or escaping, making it simpler to produce and format multiline strings. This feature makes code that contains lengthy text blocks—like HTML templates or SQL queries—easier to comprehend and maintain.

Improved Garbage Collection

In Java programs, garbage collection is essential for memory management. The garbage collectors have been improved in Java 17, including the Z Garbage Collector (ZGC) and the Shenandoah Garbage Collector. By minimizing the effect of garbage collection on the application’s responsiveness, these improvements seek to decrease pause times and enhance overall application performance.

Smaller Docker Images

Java 17 delivers reduced Docker images for developers working with containerized applications. With this optimization, the Java runtime environment is smaller, which leads to quicker image pulls, less storage usage, and quicker deployment times. Not only are smaller Docker images advantageous for developers, but they also help production environments make better use of their resources.

New APIs and Libraries

The release of Java 17 adds new libraries and APIs that increase the language’s functionality. For instance, the Java Development Kit (JDK) includes the Vector API, which streamlines parallel processing and boosts efficiency for mathematical operations, and the Foreign Linker API, which facilitates smooth connections with non-Java applications. These upgrades give programmers strong tools to solve challenging issues more successfully.

Improved Performance with a Just-In-Time Compiler

The Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler, which is in charge of dynamically optimizing code during runtime, has been updated in Java 17. Your Java applications’ performance may noticeably increase as a result of these optimizations. The user experience is improved by Java 17’s quicker execution speeds and better responsiveness overall.

Enhanced Support for Unicode

Characters from different writing systems can be represented uniformly thanks to the character encoding standard known as Unicode. Improved Unicode support in Java 17 allows for improved handling and processing of text in various languages and scripts. This enhancement makes Java 17 a solid option for creating multilingual apps by facilitating internationalization and localization processes.

Improved Memory Management with NUMA-Aware Allocation

Modern systems frequently use Non-Uniform Memory Access (NUMA) designs, particularly in server contexts. NUMA-aware memory allocation, which is a new feature in Java 17, optimizes memory management based on the underlying NUMA topology. By reducing the latency brought on by remote memory access, this improvement enhances memory access performance, particularly in high-throughput applications.

Upgraded Libraries and APIs

Upgraded versions of several libraries and APIs are included in Java 17, giving developers access to more effective and potent tools. For instance, improvements have been made to the JDBC API, which is used to connect to databases, increase speed and offer support for new database capabilities. When creating Java applications, updated libraries make sure you can take advantage of the most recent improvements and optimizations.

Future-Proofing Your Codebase

Your codebase is future-proofed by upgrading to Java 17. Maintaining older versions could cause compatibility problems with newer frameworks, libraries, and tools. By upgrading, you can make sure that your codebase is still compatible with the Java ecosystem as it changes and benefit from the newest developments and best practices.

Improved Error Reporting and Diagnostics

With the additions to error reporting and diagnostics in Java 17, it will be simpler to find and fix problems in your apps. The enhanced error messages and diagnostic data give developers more accurate and useful insights, speeding the debugging process and cutting down on the amount of time it takes to fix problems.

Modernization of the Java Language and APIs

Every time a new version of Java is released, it advances to incorporate contemporary paradigms and patterns. This pattern is continued with Java 17 by updating the language and APIs. It adds new language features, upgrades current APIs, and raises developer productivity as a whole. You can take advantage of these developments and write cleaner, more expressive code by upgrading.

Continued Support and Updates from the Java Community

The community of Java developers, organizations, and contributors is large and devoted, and they actively support and maintain the language. You can take advantage of the continued support, bug fixes, and updates offered by the Java community by upgrading to Java 17. You can connect your development efforts with industry standards and best practices by keeping up with the times.

Compliance with Industry Standards and Regulations

Compliance with industry standards and regulations is crucial in the world of technology today. Java 17 complies with several standards and guidelines, guaranteeing that your applications do so. This involves adherence to security protocols and rules as well as Java Platform, Enterprise Edition (Java EE) standard conformance.

Leveraging New Language Constructs and Design Patterns

With Java 17, new language features and design patterns are available that can help your code be more readable, extensible, and maintainable. You can incorporate these constructions and patterns by upgrading, which will enable more effective teamwork and development. These enhancements can produce codebases that are cleaner and more reliable.

Improved Performance in Server Applications

Java 17 has server-application-specific optimizations, making it a desirable option for creating high-performance, scalable systems. Reduced latency, increased throughput, and improved overall server-side performance are the goals of these optimizations. You can take advantage of these advancements by updating to Java 17 to get faster response times and effectively manage heavier workloads.

Enhanced Security Policies and Controls

Every software application must consider security. To reduce potential vulnerabilities and safeguard your applications against security risks, Java 17 includes improved security rules and controls. These enhancements give you peace of mind when it comes to preserving sensitive data and guarding against harmful attacks by helping to secure the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of your Java-based systems.

Improved Development Tools and IDE Support

Updated versions of well-known Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) and development tools are released alongside Java 17. Java 17 is supported seamlessly by IDEs like IntelliJ IDEA, Eclipse, and NetBeans, which also offer improved code completion, refactoring capabilities, and debugging tools. You may benefit from the newest features and advancements in your preferred development environment by upgrading to Java 17.

Adoption of New Language Features by the Java Community

The Java community is embracing the new language features and capabilities as Java 17 gains popularity. By upgrading, you put yourself in a position to profit from the ecosystem’s expansion and the innovations being generated by developers and organizations throughout the world. By maintaining compatibility with libraries, frameworks, and tools that use these new capabilities, you may take advantage of the community’s combined knowledge and innovation by using the most recent Java version.

Long-Term Support and Compatibility

Because Java 17 is an LTS (Long-Term Support) release, Oracle will provide support and updates for a considerable amount of time. This makes it a dependable option for businesses and organizations whose software environments must be stable and predictable. By upgrading to Java 17, you may build upon your Java applications, knowing that there will be ongoing support and compatibility with current codebases and investments.

Conclusion

The Java ecosystem has a tonne of new features, performance upgrades, and security improvements thanks to Java 17. Upgrading to Java 17 enables developers to take advantage of a variety of improvements, such as records and pattern matching, sealed classes, and improved security features. You can count on stability and long-term support because of its LTS certification. Additionally, you may benefit from the most recent advancements and work with other developers thanks to the vibrant Java community and changing ecosystem.

Consider updating your development environment and porting your applications to this most recent version to fully benefit from Java 17’s capabilities. Keep abreast of the official documentation, research pertinent sources, and organize your migration plan appropriately. Make use of Java 17’s strengths to advance your programming abilities.