What Are the New Features of Java 17?

What are the Java latest version features? Oracle releases new Java versions every six months. Java 17 is the latest one and comes with exciting features.   

Introduction 

Java 17, the newest long-term support release of mainstream Java, is now ready for usage in production. Oracle also stated that LTS versions, which receive at least eight years of product support, will be released every two years rather than every three years so far. Oracle provides six months of support for non-LTS releases. 

Context-specific remote code execution filter support and a preview of template recognition for switch statements are two of the new features in the upcoming version of standard Java. Everything that has been introduced since the last LTS version, JDK 11, which launched a few years ago, is included in JDK 17. Let’s learn more about Java 17 in detail. 

Why Is Java 17 Important?  

To improve the present application’s performance or user experience, one must upgrade to Java 17. 

Depending on the application and environment, you might need to make certain code changes if you migrate. The developers and other team members must update the local environment. An upgrade is also necessary for the runtime environments, such as those used in production and the build server environments. 

Teams can upgrade to the most recent Java version by mentioning it in their Docker image. This won’t affect any other teams currently using an earlier version of Java because other teams can still use an earlier version of the Docker image. 

The same holds true for Kubernetes-based environments. A team can update the Docker images and deploy everything whenever they want to update to a newer Java release. 

Features for Developers – List of JEPs 

The following are the features of Java 17: 

• Restore Always-Strict Floating-Point Semantics (JEP 306):  

Floating-point operations will become uniformly strict after the restoration of always-strict floating-point semantics. Including strict and default floating point modes in Java Standard Edition 1.2 returns the language and virtual machine to their original floating point semantics. This project aims to make it easier to construct numerically sensitive libraries like java.lang.Math and java.lang.StrictMath. 

• Enhanced Pseudo-Random Number Generators (JEP 356):  

Although Random and SplittableRandom offer a nearly identical set of methods (e.g., nextInt(), nextDouble(), and stream-generating functions like ints() and longs()), it was difficult to switch between them in an application or even replace them with different algorithms.The methods nextInt() and nextDouble() that are common to all random number generators are specified in RandomGenerator. So, in the future, you ought to always use this interface if you only require these methods.  

Three new categories of random number generators are present in the framework: 

• JumpableGenerator offers an interface for jumping forward by moderate numbers (e.g., 264). 
• LeapableGenerator offers an interface for leaping forward by a lot of random numbers (e.g., 2128). 
• ArbitrarilyJumpableGenerator provides extra ways to skip any number of random numbers. 

In order to reuse the code for future implementations of random number generators, duplicate code from the existing classes was also removed and extracted into non-public abstract classes. 

• New macOS Rendering Pipeline (JEP 382): 

Using the new Apple Metal framework, a new Java 2D rendering pipeline is required for macOS. Java 2D is entirely reliant on OpenGL as of right now. The Metal framework has replaced the OpenGL rendering library, which Apple deprecated in macOS 10.14. 

• macOS/AArch64 Port (JEP 391):  

Java already has a Linux AArch64 port, and Windows development is now underway. By using conditional compilation, which is common in JDK port implementations, Java designers anticipate being able to reuse existing AArch64 code from these ports to account for variations in low-level conventions like the program binary interface and the set of reserved processor registers. Pre-integration testing will lessen the likelihood of changes for MacOS/AArch64 breaking the currentWindows/AArch64, Linux/AArch64,  and MacOS/x64 ports. 

• Deprecate the Applet API for Removal (JEP 398): 

Current web browsers no longer support Java applets, and Java 9 declares them to be “deprecated.” In Java 17, JDK Enhancement Proposal 398 designates them as “deprecated for removal.” As a result, they will be entirely eliminated in one of the upcoming editions. 

• Strongly Encapsulate JDK Internals (JEP 403):  

Strong encapsulation of all JDK internal components, except vital ones like sun.misc.unsafe. As it was from JDK 9 to JDK 16, it won’t be feasible to relax the rigorous encapsulation of internal components with a single command-line parameter. 

• Pattern Matching for Switch (Preview) (JEP 406):  

In Java 17, a preview capability for pattern matching for the switch operator is available. This enables you to use instanceof in a switch statement to look for a specific kind of variable and then take appropriate action. For instance, you may use switch to browse a binary tree and the return operator to get the contents of a particular node. By including -enable-preview as an input in the compiler, Java 17 users can already experiment with this capability. 

• Remove RMI Activation (JEP 407):  

The RMI Activation mechanism is no longer in use and is out of date. JEP 385 designated it as deprecated for removal in Java SE 15. In reaction to that deprecation, no comments were received. For the complete context, justification, hazards, and options, please refer to JEP 385.The JavaBeans Activation Framework was a technology that was part of the Java EE Platform (JAF). As a part of the Eclipse EE4J program, this was later given the moniker Jakarta Activation. RMI Activation has no connection to the JavaBeans Activation or Jakarta Activation technologies, and their removal from Java SE has no impact on them either. 

• Sealed Classes (JEP 409):  

The real-world data that current applications process has proven to be very well modeled by the object-oriented data model with inheritance hierarchies of classes and interfaces. The Java language’s expressiveness is a key feature. There are situations, nevertheless, where it would be beneficial to moderate such expressiveness. Java, for instance, allows enum classes to simulate the case where a particular class has a limited number of instances. 

• Remove the Experimentals AOT and JIT Compiler (JEP 410):  

The experimental AOT and JIT compiler has been removed because it hasn’t been used much and needs a lot of upkeep. In order for developers to continue using externally generated versions of the compiler for JIT compilation, the strategy calls for keeping the Java-level JVM compiler interface. The jaotc tool, known as AOT compilation, was added as an experimental feature to JDK 9. For AOT compilation, the tool leverages the Graal compiler, which is also written in Java. There were no complaints because Oracle’s JDK 16 builds did not contain these experimental Java 17 features. Three JDK modules—jdk.aot (the jaotc tool), jdk.internal.vm.compiler.management (the Graal MBean), and internal.vm.compiler (the Graal compiler) — are eliminated as part of the suggested approach. AOT compilation-related HotSpot code has also been eliminated.  

• Deprecate the Security Managers for Removal (JEP 411):  

The main purpose of the Security Manager, which has been a part of the platform since Java 1.0, is to safeguard the computer and the user’s data from downloaded Java applets. These were launched inside of a sandbox where the Security Manager restricted access to network and file system resources. 

This feature of the Security Manager will no longer be applicable since Java applets have been designated as “deprecated for removal,” as was stated in the previous section.The Security Manager could secure server programs using policy files in addition to the browser sandbox, which typically forbade access to resources. Elasticsearch and Tomcat are two examples. 

However, given that this requires sophisticated configuration and that security can now be implemented more effectively via the Java module system or isolation through containerization, there is little interest in it anymore. 

The Security Manager requires a significant maintenance effort as well. JDK developers must determine for each extension to the Java class library how much security they need to add using the Security Manager. 

• Foreign Functions and Memory API (Incubator) (JEP 412):  

The developer can use this Foreign Function and Memory API to access code stored outside the JVM (foreign functions), data saved outside the JVM (off-heap data), and memory that is not under the control of the JVM (foreign memory). 

• Vector API (Second Incubator) (JEP 414): 

 This feature, first presented in JEP 338 as a component of Java 16, is currently through its second iteration. The performance of the Vector API is the main goal of Java 17. The aim is to build a clear, platform-independent, and dependable API. 

• Context-Specific Deserialization Filters (JEP 415):  

The creation of objects, the values of their fields, and the relationships between them are all based on the content of the incoming data stream, making deserializing untrusted material inherently risky. The bytes in the stream are frequently received from an unidentified, untrusted, or unauthenticated client. An adversary can run code from arbitrary classes with harmful intent by carefully crafting the stream. The workings of the application components, library objects, and even the Java runtime may not be as effective if the side effects of object formation alter the state or trigger additional operations. 

Process Feature – LTS (Long-term Support) 

It is well known that Java platform releases have a history of being lengthy and imprecise. Although releases were intended to occur every three years, the procedure frequently took four years to complete. 

The team in charge of the platform’s evolution also chose to alter the release cadence to accommodate the current market dynamics, where innovation and prompt action have become essential. 

• Six-Month Feature-Release Model:  

The platform developers can now deliver features when ready, thanks to the new six-month feature-release strategy. As a result, there is no longer any urgency to rush the feature into the release or delay it for years. They no longer have to wait three to four years to make the capability available to platform users. 

• LTS Model: 

Java is frequently used in enterprise applications; therefore, stability is important. Maintaining support for all of these versions and offering patch updates is expensive. The Long-Term Support (LTS) versions were developed as a result, giving users more support. As a result of bug corrections, performance upgrades, and security patches, these versions inevitably grow more reliable and secure.  

Conclusion 

Java 17 adds a number of features for developers and users. It makes it simple to construct challenging Java and web apps. For better development, numerous features have been added and removed. Java 17 is surely a treat for coders and other platform users. Its new security features are truly remarkable. 

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