What You Need to Know About Oracle Java 11 Licensing and Support

If you are considering updating to the latest Java version, this article provides the most important information about Oracle Java 11.

Oracle has changed its Java support model, but the rumor that you now have to pay to use Java is false.

Since Java 8, many overlapping changes have occurred. The new six‑month release cadence and Oracle's licensing and support model mean every organization deploying Java should consider the following questions:

Where to obtain the JDK (e.g., Azul, IBM, Oracle, Red Hat, or other OpenJDK builds)

Which Java version is used in production

Whether updates (patches and security fixes) are desired for those versions

Which versions are planned for future use

How frequently the next major Java version should be upgraded

What kind of support (classification and bug reporting) is expected for the versions

Oracle JDK Changes

Previously we simply downloaded Oracle's JDK and used it for development, testing, and production. Starting with Java 11, Oracle split its JDK license into two builds: a commercial JDK (paid support) and a free OpenJDK build.

Oracle's JDK (commercial) – free for development and testing, paid for production use.

Oracle's OpenJDK (open source) – free to use in any environment, just like any other open‑source library.

Since Java 11, the commercial JDK and Oracle OpenJDK have identical functionality, so applications run unchanged on either.

Support and Updates

The key difference between the two versions is that the commercial JDK receives updates and support, while the OpenJDK version does not receive updates for previous releases. Oracle will not provide updates for Java 9 or 10 OpenJDK builds, and Java 11 has already been released. Therefore, if you are using Oracle OpenJDK, you must be prepared to upgrade to each new Java version as it becomes available.

Oracle is not the only vendor. Over the years we have become accustomed to using their free JDK as the default, but other vendors (Azul, IBM, Red Hat, AdoptOpenJDK, etc.) offer JDKs with different support models—both free and paid—and may continue to provide updates for older versions such as Java 9.

Stephen Colebourne wrote an article summarizing the different JDK versions from various vendors and explaining why they all provide builds of the same OpenJDK code.

If you do not want to use any Oracle JDK version because its support or update policy does not suit you, consider alternatives like Azul, IBM, Red Hat, or community‑driven AdoptOpenJDK.

Conclusion

You can still download the commercial Oracle JDK for free and use it in development/testing environments.

Oracle JDK 8 stopped receiving public updates after January 2019; to receive updates you must pay Oracle or switch to another JDK.

The six‑month release cadence has changed the ongoing support for older Java versions (including 9 and 10).

Oracle’s commercial JDK no longer updates or supports Java 9 and 10; you need to review the version you are using and understand Oracle’s support model if you run it in production.

If you use OpenJDK, you should upgrade to the latest version as soon as possible, depending on your vendor.

Other vendors may continue to support Java 9 or other older versions.

To obtain full support and updates for production Java versions, compare the support models and pricing of Azul, IBM, Oracle, and Red Hat.

More Information

Java is Still Free (Java Champions) – an in‑depth article by Java Champions.

A Quick Summary on the new Java SE Subscription (Oracle)

Oracle JDK Releases for Java 11 and Later (Oracle)

The future of Java and OpenJDK updates without Oracle support (Red Hat)

Eliminating Java Update Confusion (Azul)

Java is still available at zero‑cost (Stephen Colebourne)

The Future of Java / OpenJDK and How it Impacts You! (Video: Virtual Java User Group)

Original link: https://dzone.com/articles/using-java-11-in-production-important-things-to-kn Author: Trisha Gee Translator: Emma