Oracle has announced the release of the Java Development Kit (JDK) 8, Update 40 (JDK 8u40). This latest release of Oracle’s implementation of Java SE (Standard Edition), JDK 8u40, adds improvements to performance, scalability, and administration. The release also includes new updates to JavaFX platform for creating and delivering rich internet applications.
“The proliferation of mobile devices and the Internet of Things has led to an increasingly connected world, but none of this would be possible without underlying foundational technology like Java,” said Georges Saab, vice president of development, Java Platform at Oracle. “With these updates to JDK 8, we continue to usher in the next era of Java to enable developers and enterprises alike to cement Java’s role as the backbone of today’s and tomorrow’s revolutionary business solutions.”
The latest Java SE release introduces key enhancements, including:
- G1 enhancements (JEP156) to limit the likelihood of long pauses while the system frees resources.
- Dynamic enablement of Java Flight Recorder (JFR) which enables users to resolve production problems without requiring a stop, which may impact SLAs and cause disruptions to the end-user experience.
- Improvements to the native packager that enable developers to create native-feel applications that do not require clients to have an existing Java Runtime installed.
- New time zone date updater tool that can consume raw time zone data (tzdata) rules from the IANA time zone registry database and convert it to the format required by the JRE.
In addition, new JavaFX features include the ability to modernize the JavaFX stack on Mac OS X (JEP 206), as well as enhancement of existing JavaFX controls to support assistive technologies, and the addition of a public API for developers to write their own accessible controls.
Current versions of Java SE are available for general computing use for no charge on the Oracle website. End users can visit here and developers can visit here.