Canonical's Game-Changing Move for Java Developers

In a major announcement for the Java community, Canonical—best known for its Ubuntu Linux—has rolled out its very own certified OpenJDK builds, aiming to supercharge performance for developers while offering an astonishing 12 years of security support via Ubuntu Pro. With Java being a backbone for approximately 90% of Fortune 500 companies, Canonical's latest endeavor caters directly to increasing complexities and security challenges faced by Java developers.

Extended Security Support: A Lifeline for Legacy Applications

For legacy applications still using older versions like Java 8—which still holds a significant market share despite Oracle’s discontinuation of Premier Support—Canonical's promise to extend security updates until at least 2034 is groundbreaking. This move grants developers much-needed reliability, empowering them to maintain their applications far beyond the original support timelines. By contrast, competitors like Red Hat and Azul Zulu offer considerably less support.

Meet the 'Chiseled' OpenJDK: Compact Yet Mighty

One of the standout innovations from Canonical is its 'Chiseled' Open Java Runtime Environment (OpenJRE) containers. These optimized images shed unnecessary bulk, boasting sizes up to 56% smaller than standard versions like Temurin OpenJDK—perfect for CI/CD pipelines and cloud-native applications. Despite their miniature size, these chiseled images deliver the same performance in startup times and throughput, enabling swift execution without compromising functionality.

A Security Revolution: Reducing the Attack Surface

In a tech landscape laden with vulnerabilities, Canonical's chiseled containers dramatically reduce the attack surface associated with traditional Java runtimes. A staggering 90% of Java services are reported to have critical vulnerabilities. By minimizing indirect dependencies—third-party libraries often included unknowingly—these builds protect companies from potential security issues, making them a robust choice for enterprise applications.

Flexible for Future Needs: Tailored Images Just for You

The beauty of Canonical's OpenJDK lies in its flexibility. Developers can easily modify these images to suit specific application requirements, ensuring compatibility without sacrificing performance. With ongoing support for major LTS OpenJDK versions through Ubuntu Pro, including 8, 11, 17, and 21, developers gain a dependable foundation for their projects.

Cutting-Edge Features: Faster Starts and Compliance Ready

Canonically addressing Java's infamous slow startup, they offer support for GraalVM and Coordinated Restore at Checkpoint (CRaC), enhancing startup speed and efficiency. GraalVM’s ahead-of-time compilation produces fast native executables, while CRaC allows developers to checkpoint and restore Java Virtual Machines within milliseconds—ideal for containerized and serverless applications.

The Future is Bright with Canonical's Aligning Releases

As a cherry on top, Canonical will align its Ubuntu releases with the OpenJDK biannual release schedule, ensuring that the newest LTS updates arrive alongside Ubuntu’s own LTS versions. This synchronization provides an unprecedented balance of stability and access to the latest Java features—perfect for both production and experimentation.

Conclusion: Canonical's OpenJDK—A New Era for Java Development!

In conclusion, Canonical is establishing Ubuntu as a premier platform for secure and high-performance Java development. By combining extended security, optimized container images, and reliable release cycles, Canonical is revolutionizing the Java lifecycle for enterprises and giving developers the tools to innovate confidently. Developers can download these promising builds from Dockerhub or Amazon Container Registry—it's time to rethink your Java strategy!