What New Features Will JDK 19 Bring? Exploring Vector API and RISC‑V Support

JDK 18/Java 18 was released last month, and JDK 19 is planned for September. The official proposal includes two features for the next version: the Vector API and a port of the JDK to the RISC‑V architecture.

Vector API is an API for expressing vector computations, entering its fourth incubation in the upcoming Java version.

The RISC‑V proposal aims to port the JDK to the open‑source Linux/RISC‑V instruction set architecture (ISA).

Although JDK 19 may include many features such as universal generics, value objects, and record patterns, currently only the Vector API and RISC‑V port are officially proposed.

JEP 422 states that RISC‑V is a free and open RISC ISA originally designed at UC Berkeley, now developed under RISC‑V International, widely supported by language toolchains, and its hardware proliferation makes a JDK port valuable.

The Linux/RISC‑V port will initially support only the RV64GV configuration, a general‑purpose 64‑bit ISA, with future consideration for other configurations such as RV32G.

According to the official schedule, JDK 19 GA is set for September 20, with ramp‑down phases on June 9 and July 21, and candidate releases on August 11 and August 21.

Like JDK 18, JDK 19 is a short‑term release with six months of support. The current LTS is JDK 17 (released September 14, 2021); the next LTS will be JDK 21 in September 2023.