# Java is still available at zero-cost

DevFeed: [Java is still available at zero-cost](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/java-is-still-available-at-zero-cost-22001.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<http://blog.joda.org/2018/08/java-is-still-available-at-zero-cost.html>)

Author: Stephen Colebourne (noreply@blogger.com)

Published: 2018-08-28T06:53:00Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [Stephen Colebourne](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/stephen-colebourne.md>)

Topics: [Java](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/java.md>), [openjdk](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/openjdk.md>), [Java 9](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/java-9.md>), [releases](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/releases.md>)

Tags: [java](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/java.md>), [java-9](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/java-9.md>), [jdk](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/jdk.md>), [open-source](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/open-source.md>), [openjdk](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/openjdk.md>), [release](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/release.md>), [releases](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/releases.md>)

## AI overview

The article explains how Java's six-month release cycle changed Oracle's free security-update and long-term-support policies, especially from Java 11 onward. It also describes OpenJDK-based alternatives and the factors developers should consider when choosing a JDK build.

## Source excerpt

The Java ecosystem has always been built on a high quality $free (zero-cost) JDK available from Oracle, and previously Sun. This is as true today as it always has been - but the new six-monthly release cycle does mean some big changes are happening. Six-monthly releases Java now has a release every six months, something which greatly impacts how each version is supported. By support, I mean the provision of update releases with security patches and important bug fixes. Up to and including Java 8, $free security updates were provided for many years. Certainly up to and beyond the launch of the next version. With Java 9 and the six-monthly release cycle, this $free support is now much more tightly controlled. In fact, Oracle will not be providing $free long-term support (LTS) for any single Java version at all from Java 11 onwards. VersionRelease dateEnd of $free updates from Oracle Java 8March 2014January 2019 (for commercial use) Java 9Sept 2017March 2018 Java 10March 2018Sept 2018 Java 11Sept 2018March 2019 (might be extended, see below) Java 12March 2019Sept 2019 The idea here is simple. Oracle wants to focus its energy on moving Java forward with the cost of long-term support directly paid for by customers (instead of giving it away for $free). To do this, they need developers to continually upgrade their version of Java, moving version every six months (and picking up the patch releases in-between). Of course, for most development shops, such rapid upgrade is not feasible. But Java is now developed as OpenJDK, which means that Oracle's support dates are not the only ones to consider. OpenJDK A key point to grasp is that most JDK builds in the world are based on the open source OpenJDK project. The Oracle JDK is merely one of many builds that are based on the OpenJDK codebase. While it used to be the case that Oracle had additional extras in their JDK, as of Java 11 this is no longer the case. Many other vendors also provide builds based on the OpenJDK codebase.