Java Basics: What Is OpenJDK?

OpenJDK is continually rising in popularity in the Java community. In this blog, we take a look at OpenJDK, OpenLogic's OpenJDK solution, and what this means for users of JRebel.

What Is OpenJDK?

OpenJDK is an open source implementation of the Java Platform, Standard Edition.

It’s no secret that in 2019 Oracle dropped a bombshell within the Java community when they turned Oracle JDKs into fully-paid services, making it no longer open source. With over 70% of all Java enterprise applications using the Oracle JDK in their deployments, this left the Java ecosystem scrambling to avoid paying Oracle millions with their Java usage audits. Obviously, the easiest solution was to fork up the dough and stick with existing architecture. Alternatively, you could make the switch to open source and avoid those support fees.

📕 Related Resource: Need Open Source Support? Talk to an expert now. 

What Is OpenLogic OpenJDK?

But what open sourced JDK should you use when making the switch off of Oracle’s own JDK? In comes OpenLogic’s OpenJDK builds for both Java 8 and Java 11.  Each one of these builds are certified and updated quarterly to ensure that your teams will have the most up to date and secure versions of Java.

But aren’t we already on Java 15? Yes, that is true, however, the last LTS version is obviously Java 11, and Java 8 is still used in about half of all enterprise Java applications. Therefore, OpenLogic has made the decision to stick to these versions and allow teams to not have to update their builds every 6 months like the current model suggests. Teams can now stay consistent with their builds and no longer need to worry about licensing constraints or audits coming from Oracle, as OpenLogic’s builds are certified and up to date.

What Is OpenLogic?

OpenLogic, another development solution within Perforce Software, is dedicated to providing companies with the expertise and technical knowledge on all things open source. OpenLogic breaks down their services to three major categories: Support Services Options, Migration Services, and Innovation Guidance. Whether your company is a massive organization with huge code base and looking to move technical stacks from proprietary software to free community options, or a smaller team in need of consultation to find the best solution to build new features, OpenLogic has you covered.

Support Services

Open source technologies have always been a major part of the Java community, however, with open source software comes major concerns like security issues, bugs, and lack of SLA urgency. With OpenLogic’s support services, those concerns instantly become a thing of the past. Their support service provide one line of communication with a development team to OpenLogic’s team of open source experts, reducing the need to hunt down an answer from a number of sources. This saves organizations money by minimizing their reliance on proprietary software, while also reducing the operating cost associated with using open source because of OpenLogic’s expertise and streamlined process.

Migration Services

What if your company is looking to shave some money from your existing stack, but have been using the same technologies for years and have no idea how to make the switch? That’s where OpenLogic’s migration services comes in. Not only does the OpenLogic team understand the open source market, but they know what technologies need to be used and where to use them. They can determine if an open source product is even viable to begin with, saving you the time and effort of trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

Every organization needs different levels of assistance, and with OpenLogic’s migration services you can choose the level of assistance needed. For example, do you need the entire migration steps laid out from start to finish, or do you simply need some general technology recommendations? OpenLogic offers a complete range of services, giving your team the confidence and support they need throughout the process.

Innovation Guidance

What if you are just starting out with your application, or building new features from scratch? Many times, companies in these scenarios might only know what they want their application to do, but don't know what technical stacks would best suit their needs. OpenLogic’s innovation guidance service provides a diverse set of free, prepackaged, ready-to-go community software to ensure your team has the best possible stack.

OpenLogic’s well-versed team can provide design help as well as general training on top of providing this software, simplifying the process and helping teams to hit the ground running. Whether your team is just starting out, trying to make a change, or just in need of support on an existing stack, OpenLogic will assist.

Is OpenLogic’s OpenJDK Open Source?

OpenLogic’s OpenJDK distribution is free for both Java 8 and Java 11. These builds are newly available to download quarterly. You do not need to pay for a commercial use of these builds, however, if you intend to have full commercial Java Support, you will need to use OpenLogic’s Support Service.

What Does This Mean For JRebel Users?

JRebel is a Java agent that is heavily involved with the JVM itself to operate correctly with Java web applications. Therefore, JRebel is required to be updated with all the Java versions provided by OpenLogic. Luckily for current JRebel  users that are looking to make a switch to OpenLogic’s OpenJDK free distribution of either Java 8 or 11, these are fully supported.

On top of that, the Rebel tools will not require any special pricing or configuration to make the switch and will operate exactly the same whether you are using OpenLogic’s OpenJDK or Oracle’s SE. If you were at all concerned about losing capability or any functionally making the switch from a Rebel tools perspective, this should give you no pause.

Additional Resources

Curious what Java developers are using the most? Our 2020 Java Developer Productivity Report provides data and insight on the most popular technologies in Java today. Rather get the key insights in a video? Watch our follow-up webinar instead.

DOWNLOAD REPORT

Looking for additional reading on Java tools? Check out these other blogs from our "Java Basics" series.

• What Is SAP Hybris?
• What Is Apache Tomcat? 
• What Is Apache Struts?
• What Is Gradle?
• What Is Liferay?