Alternative Java Options
Introduction: Faced with rising costs and compliance risks of Oracle’s Java licensing, many organizations are exploring alternatives. The good news is that Java is not an Oracle-exclusive technology; it has a robust open-source ecosystem.
OpenJDK – the open-source reference implementation of Java – and several third-party builds of it offer viable, enterprise-grade Java platforms without Oracle’s onerous license terms.
This article provides an overview of popular Java alternatives, compares their licensing and support models, and discusses the cost-benefit considerations for enterprises migrating away from Oracle Java. With the right approach, companies can run Java workloads with minimal disruption and potentially significant cost savings, all while staying compliant.
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OpenJDK: The Foundation of Java Alternatives
OpenJDK (Open Java Development Kit) is the open-source project that forms the basis of the Java Standard Edition. Sun Microsystems opened up the Java SE implementation via OpenJDK starting in 2006, and today Oracle’s own JDK is built from the OpenJDK codebase. This means that OpenJDK is functionally equivalent to Oracle’s Java – it passes the same Technology Compatibility Kit (TCK) tests that certify a Java implementation.
Key points about OpenJDK:
- Licensing: OpenJDK is released under the GNU General Public License version 2 with the Classpath Exception (GPLv2+CPE). This is a free, open-source license. The Classpath Exception means you can use OpenJDK in your applications (even proprietary ones) without the viral effects of GPL – it does not require you to open-source your code. There are no fees or usage restrictions under this license.
- Community and Governance: OpenJDK is an open community project. It is led by Oracle and others, and has contributions from many companies, including Red Hat, IBM, Amazon, and Azul, as well as individuals. Each new Java version (e.g., Java 17, Java 21) is developed within OpenJDK. This collaborative model means innovation and fixes come from a broad base, not just Oracle.
- Compatibility: Since OpenJDK is the reference implementation, applications that run on Oracle JDK will run on OpenJDK with few to no changes. Oracle JDK and OpenJDK for a given version are now almost identical, byte for byte, differing mostly in packaging and branding. This compatibility has encouraged many third parties to create their builds of OpenJDK optimized for various needs.
In essence, OpenJDK provides a free Java runtime that you can use in production without worrying about Oracle’s licensing – the trade-off is that you won’t have Oracle’s support or proprietary add-ons (which are largely legacy at this point).
Most organizations find OpenJDK’s capabilities sufficient for enterprise use, which has led to a thriving landscape of OpenJDK-based distributions.
Alternative Java Options: Exploring OpenJDK and Others
Major OpenJDK Distributions and Vendors
Several vendors and communities produce their builds of OpenJDK, often adding value in terms of easier installation, long-term support (LTS) for older versions, or commercial support options.
Here are some of the most popular Java alternatives to Oracle Java SE, all of which are based on OpenJDK:
- AdoptOpenJDK / Eclipse Temurin: AdoptOpenJDK was a community-driven project that provided free, high-quality OpenJDK binaries. It has since moved under the Eclipse Foundation and is now known as Eclipse Temurin under the Adoptium project. Temurin provides no-cost binaries for all major platforms, covering Java 8, 11, 17, and so on. It is community-supported, meaning there is no official vendor support by default (though you can get support from third parties, such as IBM, or others for these builds). Temurin is very widely used as a drop-in replacement for Oracle JDK in enterprises due to its quality and open governance. In terms of updates, the Adoptium community works closely with others to provide timely security updates for LTS releases.
- Amazon Corretto: Amazon Corretto is a distribution of OpenJDK by Amazon Web Services. It is completely free to use in any environment. Amazon’s motivation was to have a stable Java for its AWS customers and internal use. Corretto comes with long-term support promises: for example, Amazon has stated that it will provide free security updates for Java 8 until at least 2030 and for Java 11 until 2032, significantly extending the life of those older versions. There are no licensing fees for Corretto. If you run on AWS, you automatically get support as part of your AWS support plans. Even on-premises, you can use it freely, with community support available via GitHub for issues. Corretto is known for being well-tested on AWS services (such as Lambda) and staying current with quarterly updates in sync with Oracle’s releases. It’s a great choice for those already in the AWS ecosystem, but it’s equally valid elsewhere.
- Azul Zulu: Azul Systems is a company that has focused on Java for many years. Azul Zulu is their version of OpenJDK, which they offer as a free binary download and also as part of their commercial offering, Azul Platform Core. The Zulu OpenJDK binaries are free for anyone to use, without restriction. What Azul adds is optional paid support: organizations can purchase support subscriptions for Azul Zulu at a cost typically far lower than Oracle’s. Azul often cites a price that is approximately 70% lower than Oracle’s. Azul’s support is top-notch – they have Java experts and even backport fixes and backstop older versions as needed. Azul also offers builds for many platforms, including embedded systems and special versions for lower memory. With Azul, you have flexibility: you can use Zulu for free, and if you require SLAs and help, pay Azul a relatively modest fee compared to Oracle. Notably, Azul supports all major Java versions, including some that Oracle has long since ended (they maintained Java 6 and 7 for customers who needed them, for instance).
- Red Hat OpenJDK: Red Hat contributes heavily to OpenJDK and produces its builds, especially for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). Red Hat’s OpenJDK is included with RHEL subscriptions at no additional cost. So if your organization runs RHEL, you already have access to a fully supported OpenJDK as part of your OS support (and Red Hat backports security fixes as part of that). For non-RHEL environments, Red Hat’s OpenJDK builds can still be used freely. Still, official support may require a subscription (Red Hat, for example, offers a separate subscription for OpenJDK on Windows). Red Hat typically supports each LTS version for a long time (often aligning with its product lifecycle). For instance, Red Hat took on being the steward of OpenJDK 8 and 11 updates when Oracle left the public update space. Many companies using Java 11 or 8 in production rely on Red Hat’s published fixes (even if indirectly via AdoptOpenJDK). Red Hat’s OpenJDK is a strong choice, particularly for organizations that are Red Hat shops, as it integrates with their support channels.
- BellSoft Liberica JDK: BellSoft is another company offering OpenJDK builds. Liberica JDK is their distribution, available in a free edition and with commercial support options. Liberica is known for providing a wide range of packages, including full JDK, JRE, and even lightweight builds for containers (Liberica “Lite”). The free binaries have no use restrictions. If you need support, BellSoft offers subscriptions per server or desktop, still not requiring per-user licensing. They emphasize support for embedded use (IoT) and claim very fast release of security patches, typically within 48 hours for critical fixes to support customers. BellSoft, being a smaller player, some enterprises choose them especially for specialized needs or as a secondary support option.
- IBM Semeru (IBM OpenJ9): IBM, long a Java stakeholder, provides builds under the name IBM Semeru, which come in two flavors: one with the standard HotSpot JVM and one with IBM’s own OpenJ9 JVM. These are free and open source. IBM offers support for Java as part of some of its offerings, especially if you’re an IBM customer using WebSphere, among other products. They may also support the JVM. Semeru isn’t as commonly used across the industry as the ones above, but it’s an option, particularly if performance testing shows benefits with OpenJ9 for your workloads.
- Microsoft’s Build of OpenJDK: Microsoft also produces an OpenJDK build (starting with Java 11) for internal use and Azure services. It’s free for anyone to use, and Microsoft provides updates for it. Microsoft’s involvement further underscores that the industry is shifting away from Oracle JDKs.
Bottom Line: All these alternatives share the same core technology (OpenJDK) and are Java SE standard-compliant. They differ in who backs them, how they’re packaged, and what support you can get, but technically, your applications should run the same on any of them. This diversity means you are not locked into a single vendor for Java – you can choose one based on your needs, such as cost, support, or performance.
To summarize the licensing and cost aspects, note that all these OpenJDK distributions are free for runtime use. None of them require counting users or processors or buying a subscription just to use Java.
If you want support or advanced features, you opt in to a subscription (with Red Hat, Azul, BellSoft, etc., depending on which distro you use). This is a stark contrast to Oracle’s model, where you must pay simply to use the software in production.
Licensing and Support Models Comparison
Let’s compare the alternatives in terms of licensing, cost, and support:
- Oracle Java SE (for reference): A proprietary license requires a paid subscription for commercial use, except under NFTC for temporary free use. Cost: a per-employee subscription, typically $15 per employee per month (tiered down for larger organizations). Support: Oracle Premier Support is included with a subscription. Updates are released quarterly, but you only receive them if you are paying (or within the NFTC period). Long-term support for LTS releases as long as the subscription is active (Java 8 is supported until 2030, etc.).
- OpenJDK (community builds, such as Temurin): GPLv2+CPE license (free). Cost: $0 license cost. Support: community-based (forums, GitHub); no guaranteed SLA, but bugs are addressed by community contributors. Updates: Security updates are released quarterly in alignment with Oracle’s schedule. The community coordinates to ensure fixes are available, often by relying on the work of Red Hat, Amazon, Oracle’s open-source initiatives, and others. LTS versions are maintained by the community for many years, often 4+ years or more, depending on volunteer efforts and company contributors.
- Amazon Corretto: GPLv2+CPE (free). Cost: $0. Support: No-cost long-term updates provided by Amazon. If you’re running on AWS, you can get support through your AWS support plan (no separate Corretto fee). Off AWS, support is community-based, although Amazon is responsive on forums. Updates: Amazon is very timely, often releasing the quarterly updates on the same day as Oracle. LTS support promises, such as Java 8 to 2030 and Java 11 to 2032, often extend beyond Oracle’s support timelines. This gives you confidence that you can stick with an older Long-Term Support (LTS) release if needed.
- Azul Zulu: GPLv2 + CPE for the runtime (free binaries). Cost: Free to use; optional support subscription if desired. Azul’s support pricing is typically per server or CPU, and as noted, ~70% less than Oracle for equivalent coverage. Support: 24/7 support is available with Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for those who purchase it. They provide bug fixes, technical support, and more. Updates: Azul issues quarterly updates for all current and many older Java versions. They even maintain backports for Java 6,7 (for paying customers) and ensure critical patches are available very quickly for supported clients. Free users can download the public updates they release.
- Eclipse Temurin (Adoptium): GPLv2+CPE (free). Cost: $0. Support: Community (though companies like IBM offer support services for Adoptium builds if you contract them). Updates: Yes, Adoptium participates in the quarterly update process. For example, the Adoptium project has been providing timely binaries when Java 17 security fixes come out. LTS support duration: as long as there is community interest – Java 8 and 11 are still being updated through the community, largely thanks to Red Hat.
- Red Hat OpenJDK: GPLv2+CPE (free). Cost: Free to use, no license needed. If you’re on RHEL, it’s included in your OS subscription (so it’s effectively free beyond your OS cost). Support: RHEL customers receive support through their standard support channels, including developer support for Java issues, etc. Red Hat also offers “middleware” support that covers OpenJDK on Windows or other operating systems for a fee, if needed. Updates: Red Hat is a primary maintainer for Java 8 and 11 in OpenJDK, so they ensure that these versions receive updates. They align with quarterly releases. Red Hat typically supports a Java version for the duration of its product lifecycle, often many years (e.g., they might support Java 11 until 2027 or later).
- Others (BellSoft, IBM): Similar pattern – free license, optional support. BellSoft Liberica’s support cost might be something like a subscription per a certain number of servers (they list, e.g., around $ 24,000/year for 50–100 servers as a ballpark). This is still usually cheaper than Oracle’s per-employee model for large deployments, especially for big companies. IBM offers support for its Semeru builds mostly as part of larger customer agreements.
The key takeaway is that all these alternatives eliminate the per-employee tax. You can freely deploy Java on as many systems as needed. Your costs, if any, are tied to support subscriptions, which you can scale based on actual usage (e.g., the number of servers). These are generally much lower in cost than Oracle.
Additionally, you can mix and match – for example, use Amazon Corretto on most systems and maybe purchase a small Azul support contract for a critical subset where you want direct expert support. There’s flexibility; you are not locked to a single vendor’s metric.
From a legal standpoint, using these alternatives removes the compliance risk associated with Oracle’s proprietary license. GPL with CPE has no concept of auditing or license fees.
You do need to adhere to the license (mainly, not removing license notices, etc.), which is straightforward, but there is no financial obligation. This means no audit letters, no surprising bills – effectively, Java becomes a non-issue legally, much like using Linux or other open-source infrastructure.
Cost-Benefit Considerations for Migrating from Oracle Java
Migrating from Oracle’s Java to an alternative requires effort, but the benefits can be substantial. Here are some considerations and examples:
Cost Savings:
The most immediate benefit is cost savings. Oracle’s Java SE Universal Subscription can be very expensive. For instance, a company with 5,000 employees would face an annual list cost of roughly $630,000 for Oracle Java. In contrast, using an OpenJDK distribution would incur no licensing costs. Even if the company decides to purchase a commercial support package for OpenJDK (say from Azul or Red Hat) for critical servers, the cost might be around $100,000–$200,000, depending on the scope, a fraction of Oracle’s fee. Azul has reported that customers switching from Oracle typically save about 70% in Java licensing and support costs. Over a few years, this is millions of dollars saved for a large enterprise. These funds can be redirected to other IT priorities.
Elimination of Audit Risk:
By migrating, you essentially remove Oracle’s leverage. If you have no Oracle JDK in use, Oracle cannot claim you owe Java licensing fees. This doesn’t just save money; it provides peace of mind and avoids the resource drain of compliance audits. Many CIOs value this predictability – Java becomes like any open-source component, with no vendor aggressively auditing for revenue. In a Gartner-style analysis, risk avoidance is itself a significant benefit, although it’s hard to quantify, but very real in terms of avoiding management distraction and legal exposure.
Support and Patches:
One concern might be whether switching to Oracle means slower patches or reduced support. In practice, this has not been an issue for most. For example, a survey indicated that 84% of organizations that migrated from Oracle Java found maintaining security updates to be as easy or easier than before . OpenJDK updates arrive on a similar schedule as Oracle’s (often within days or even the same day). Vendors like Amazon and Azul ensure zero-day vulnerabilities are patched promptly. Additionally, since you’re not tied to Oracle, you have the freedom to upgrade at your schedule. For instance, you could jump to Java 17 or 21 when ready and get free updates for those, without having to consider license implications. The support models available from other vendors, if needed, are quite robust. Red Hat and Azul, for example, have deep Java expertise, with some of their engineers serving as OpenJDK project leads. So, you’re not sacrificing the
Performance and Features:
There’s essentially no performance penalty in switching to OpenJDK-based alternatives, because Oracle JDK and OpenJDK are aligned. Some distributions offer performance enhancements: Azul’s Zing JVM (now part of their Prime product) can improve garbage collection for specific workloads; OpenJ9 from IBM can be more memory-efficient for certain applications. Unless you were using an Oracle JVM feature that is not in OpenJDK (most of which have been open-sourced by now), you won’t lose functionality. Oracle’s “commercial features” from Java 8, such as Flight Recorder, were open-sourced and made available in OpenJDK by Java 11. So, feature parity is there.
Migration Effort:
What does it take to switch? Typically, it’s as simple as uninstalling Oracle JDK and installing, say, Temurin or Corretto on a server, then testing your application. Because of Java’s “write once, run anywhere” goal, binary compatibility is extremely high. Most organizations find that their Java applications run on OpenJDK with no code changes. The migration effort is primarily focused on operations, including updating deployment scripts, ensuring new JDKs are in the path, and possibly updating monitoring if it relied on Oracle-specific MBeans (which is rare). Testing is important – verify that your critical apps, especially older ones, behave the same with the new JDK. But given that many companies have already done this successfully, you’re not treading new ground.
Partial Migrations:
It’s not all-or-nothing. Some might choose a hybrid approach: keep Oracle Java for a specific application that is highly sensitive and perhaps already licensed, and move everything else to OpenJDK. However, be cautious: under the new Oracle model, if you keep even one instance of Oracle Java in production without a license, Oracle will demand licensing for all employees. So, practically, if you keep any Oracle JDK, you’ll be paying the full price. That strongly incentivizes a full migration. Still, some companies time it with their support contract – e.g., continue using Oracle Java until the current support period ends, but do not renew it, and migrate by that time.
Example Scenario:
Let’s illustrate a scenario. Company A has 1,000 employees and 100 Java-based applications (a mix of internal and third-party applications) running on 200 servers. Under Oracle’s new pricing, Company A would owe about $12 per employee per month (tier for 1,000 users), which is approximately $144,000 per year. Over three years, that’s $432k. Instead, Company A decides to migrate to Amazon Corretto. They spend a few weeks testing and redeploying apps with Corretto. The licensing cost is $0. They decide they want a safety net for support, so they purchase an Azul support subscription for 50 of those servers (the most critical ones) at a hypothetical rate of $500 per server per year, costing $25,000 per year. The other, less critical servers they run with community support. Over three years, they spent $75k on support. The savings are $357k over three years, an 83% reduction, not to mention no compliance worries. Even if we factor in internal labor for migration and testing, which could be in the tens of thousands, the ROI is still extremely high.
Future-Proofing:
By aligning with the open-source community, you also gain future flexibility. Oracle’s policies have changed multiple times, which is a risk if you stick with Oracle – you never know if prices will rise. With OpenJDK, you collectively control Java’s future as an industry. For example, if Oracle ever tried something radical, there’s a robust community ensuring Java’s continuity. Many see moving to OpenJDK as a way to future-proof their Java usage and avoid vendor lock-in.
Downsides or Challenges: No assessment is complete without noting challenges:
- Some organizations have a comfort factor with Oracle support – moving away means relying on self-support or a new vendor. Ensuring your team is comfortable looking to community forums or third-party vendors for help is a change management aspect.
- Very old applications, such as those from the Java 6/7 era, may not have modern OpenJDK binaries readily available (although Azul and others can provide them). If you’re on such an old version, you likely need to upgrade the app to a newer Java version for security reasons. That’s a project in itself, but one you’d face with Oracle too (since Oracle won’t support those without big fees).
- If you use Oracle-specific tooling, such as Oracle Enterprise Management Pack for Java or something tied to Oracle, you may need to find replacements. Most monitoring and management tools now support OpenJDK without any issues.
In conclusion, for the vast majority of enterprises, the benefits of migrating off Oracle Java far outweigh the costs. Lower and more predictable costs, elimination of compliance risks, and the flexibility to choose support providers make a compelling case.
The next section will provide some guidance on how to approach migration effectively to maximize these benefits.
Migration Considerations for Switching Java Platforms
If you decide to move to an alternative Java platform, here are some key considerations and best practices to ensure a smooth transition:
- Plan and Prioritize: Inventory your Java applications and categorize them by complexity and criticality. Focus first on straightforward cases, such as apps running on standard app servers (e.g., Tomcat) with no unusual Java dependencies. Mission-critical systems should be scheduled for migration during a maintenance window, accompanied by thorough testing. Develop a migration plan that may span several weeks or months for large environments, but with continuous progress.
- Testing is Key: Even though OpenJDK-based JDKs are intended as drop-in replacements, conduct regression testing for each application after switching to a new JDK. Set up a staging environment where you can install, say, Eclipse Temurin or Amazon Corretto, and run the app’s test suite. Pay attention to any differences in logging and garbage collection behavior, although these are usually minimal. If an issue arises, it may be due to a misconfiguration (e.g., the application explicitly checks for the “Oracle” JVM vendor name, which is rare). Such issues can typically be fixed with minor tweaks or simply by confirming that they have no impact.
- Parallel Run (if possible): For critical systems, you might run the old and new JDKs in parallel in a test environment and compare performance metrics. This can alleviate concerns management might have about performance regression. In many cases, you’ll see equal performance; in some, you might even see improvements (for example, some have found that certain OpenJDK builds have slightly better memory usage).
- Update Build and Deployment Scripts: If your build processes (CI/CD) explicitly fetch Oracle JDK or your Dockerfiles reference Oracle base images, update those to OpenJDK sources. For instance, use the official Eclipse Temurin Docker image as a base for Java containers instead of an Oracle image. Ensure your CI servers are running OpenJDK for compiling, if needed. OpenJDK will compile and run Java code the same way, but you want to standardize to avoid an Oracle JDK sneaking back in via a developer’s machine.
- Training and Knowledge Transfer: Brief your DevOps and support teams about the new JDK. There may be new commands or slight differences (for example, path names). In Java 11+, there are also slight differences in the usage of the Flight Recorder tool, although it is largely the same. Ensure the team knows that, in the future, when they install Java on a server, they should use the approved OpenJDK distribution instead of Oracle. This avoids someone accidentally reintroducing Oracle JDK later and causing a compliance issue. Incorporate the alternative JDK into your standard build images and documentation.
- Monitor After Migration: Keep an eye on the applications after switching. Monitor performance, memory usage, and other metrics to catch any unexpected behavior. It’s uncommon to see issues, but it’s a good practice. If something is observed, say, a slight increase in CPU usage, investigate – it could be coincidental and unrelated to the JDK, but due diligence is wise. The community forums or vendor support can help if you find a real issue.
- Leverage Vendor Resources: If you choose a vendor like Azul or Red Hat, use their resources. For example, Red Hat provides documentation on moving from Oracle JDK to OpenJDK. Azul and Amazon have guides for using their Java Development Kits (JDKs). Microsoft’s OpenJDK site and Adoptium have FAQs for any differences. In short, you’re not the first doing this, so there’s documentation out there to help.
- Licensing Clean-up: Once migrated, ensure that all Oracle JDK binaries are removed from systems or are no longer in use. Keep evidence of removal, such as change management records. This is in case Oracle ever comes later and says, “We found Oracle JDK on X machine.” You can then show that it’s a residual file not in use or that an old version was replaced on Date Y. Updating your software asset repository to mark Oracle Java as “retired” can also be useful.
- Update Contracts and Records: If you had an Oracle Java subscription and you’re not renewing it due to migration, formally notify Oracle (if required by contract) that you’re declining renewal. Also, inform procurement and accounts payable to prevent accidental auto-renewals. If you’re within a ULA or other Oracle agreement that includes Java, note that you are now using alternative JDKs to avoid licensing counting during ULA certification (if applicable).
- Policy Enforcement: As a final step, enforce the new status quo. That might include blocking downloads from Oracle’s Java download page at the firewall (as some companies do). Provide internal repositories for developers to get the sanctioned OpenJDK builds. Essentially, make the alternative easy to access and the Oracle JDK harder to access – this ensures you reap the benefits in the long term and don’t slip back.
Enterprises like yours have demonstrated that migrating off Oracle Java is quite feasible. Many have done it under tight timelines when Oracle introduced its subscription in 2019.
With the pressure even higher now (under the per-employee model), the incentive is stronger. The result of a successful migration is Java freedom – you run Java on your terms, at low cost, and with multiple support options.
Read Oracle Java Licensing FAQs.
Next Steps and Recommendations
If you’re considering a move away from Oracle Java, here’s how to get started:
- Assess Your Java Footprint: Conduct a comprehensive audit to identify where Java is used within your organization. Note versions and what distribution is in use (Oracle vs others). This baseline will guide your migration scope and priorities.
- Select an OpenJDK Distribution: Evaluate the options (Corretto, Temurin, Azul, Red Hat, etc.) and choose one or a combination that suits your needs. Many start with one of the free community options, such as Temurin or Corretto, and see if it meets all their requirements. If you anticipate needing vendor support, engage Azul, Red Hat, or BellSoft early to understand their offerings. The comparison table (above) and your existing vendor relationships can help here.
- Pilot the Migration: Pick a non-critical application or environment and switch it to the chosen OpenJDK distribution. Observe the process and any issues. This pilot will serve as both a proof of concept and a refinement of your migration runbook for the broader rollout.
- Calculate Projected Savings: Work with Finance to quantify the cost difference: what you pay (or would pay) to Oracle over the next 3-5 years versus the cost of alternatives, including any support contracts and the one-time migration effort. Having a clear dollar figure helps get buy-in from executives and budget for any migration resources. Often, the savings are so significant that the project is a no-brainer financially.
- Engage Stakeholders: Inform application owners and business units about the plan to change the Java platform. Emphasize that this is a behind-the-scenes technical change that should not affect functionality, but that it greatly reduces cost and risk. Getting their support means they’ll allocate time for testing and won’t be caught off guard.
- Prepare a Rollout Schedule: Create a timeline for migrating batches of applications or systems. Coordinate with any maintenance windows required. Ensure this schedule is realistic and allows teams enough time to test. But also try to keep momentum – long, drawn-out migrations can lose focus. Many companies were able to migrate the bulk of their systems within a few months once they made it a priority.
- Set a Policy to Avoid Using Oracle JDK Going Forward: update your architectural standards to use [Your Chosen JDK] for all Java needs. If new projects start, they should not download Oracle JDK. This policy will cement the change. Communicate this clearly to development teams and IT.
- Monitor and Support Post-Migration: After migrating, closely monitor the performance and stability of your Java applications in production under the new JDK, especially through the first quarterly update cycle. Ensure patches are applied promptly; set up feeds or alerts for your OpenJDK vendor’s updates. If any issues arise, address them through the new community or vendor support channels and share knowledge across teams.
- Reflect and Iterate: Periodically review down the line to see if the chosen strategy is still the best. The Java landscape evolves – for instance, you might start with one vendor’s JDK and later find another offers a feature or performance edge. You have the flexibility to change since they’re all standards-compliant. But such changes are optional; the important part is you’re no longer stuck with a single vendor due to licensing constraints.
By following these steps, organizations can ensure a smooth transition to Oracle Java alternatives. The result is a Java environment that is cost-effective, legally worry-free, and technically robust.
With proper planning, the transition can be virtually invisible to end-users and customers – they continue running Java applications as before, while the organization quietly reaps financial and operational benefits.
In the next and final article, we will address frequently asked questions that CIOs and legal teams have about Oracle Java licensing, some of which will reinforce why moving to these alternatives has become such a strategic decision for many enterprises.
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