In a remarkable turn of events within the Java ecosystem, Java 17 has recently claimed the throne as the most utilised version in production environments, surpassing its predecessor, Java 11. This milestone, as unveiled by New Relic's State of the Java Ecosystem report, holds valuable lessons for Software & SaaS companies seeking to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of technology adoption and innovation. Beyond being a mere statistical anomaly, Java 17's ascent offers profound insights into the drivers of success in software development and deployment. By dissecting the factors behind Java 17's meteoric rise, this article aims to extract actionable lessons that Software & SaaS companies can incorporate into their strategies and practices. From embracing performance enhancements to prioritising long-term support and security, we explore how Java 17's journey can inform and inspire companies in their pursuit of excellence and resilience in the digital realm.
The rise of Java 17 above Java 11 marks a significant shift towards embracing the latest innovations and features offered by the Java platform. While Java 11 remains relevant to serve as a stable and reliable LTS release, Java 17's non-LTS status attracts developers who seek access to cutting-edge advancements to multiple shortcomings of Java 11. These changes and improvements include language features, performance optimizations, and multiple platform enhancements. And with these changes, organisations are increasingly adopting Java 17 to leverage its improved developer productivity, enhanced security measures, and seamless integration with modern technologies to improve their own development, positioning Java 17 as the preferred choice for building next-generation applications and services.
Java 17's rise above Java 11 is also fueled by its vibrant ecosystem and robust community, as well as its compatibility with emerging industry standards and frameworks. As developers prioritise agility and scalability, Java 17's non-LTS cycle enables their desired rapid iteration and adaptation to help them meet evolving market demands for their product/service. Empowering organisations to stay ahead of the curve and deliver exceptional software solutions certainly meets the needs of today's dynamic business landscape, making it a preferred choice for product development.
Between both versions of the Java tool, there were significant changes done to improve the newer model. This is evident in the adoption of Java 17 for a more robust development environment, signifying characteristic differences between both models and their means of operations. Below, let us look at these differences and how they affect usage during development.
1. Long-Term Support (LTS) vs. Non-LTS: Java 11 being an LTS release ensures long-term support and stability, making it suitable for enterprise applications requiring extended maintenance and compatibility. In contrast, Java 17's non-LTS status offers the latest tech features ideal for organisations focused on innovation and leveraging cutting-edge technologies. This difference significantly impacts limitations during development by up to 30%, making it the preferred choice for innovative developers.
2. New Language Features: Java 17's introduction of pattern matching for switch statements and sealed classes enhances code readability and maintainability, enabling developers to write more concise and expressive code. Similarly, Java 11's features like local-variable type inference and HTTP client API streamline development, reducing boilerplate code and improving productivity. According to Forrester Consulting, companies report a 34% increase in dev productivity when they adopt such modern tools, indeed helping them write better.
3. Improvements to the Java Platform: Java 17's Foreign Function and Memory API (Incubator) and updates to the JVM and garbage collectors enhance performance and interoperability, enabling seamless integration with native code. Java 11's JPMS empowers developers to modularize applications for better scalability and security, facilitating the development of large-scale systems with improved maintainability.
4. Security Enhancements: Both Java 11 and Java 17's security enhancements bolster the platform's resilience against cyber threats, ensuring the safety of critical applications and sensitive data. Staying updated with the latest security patches and algorithms offered by the newer versions helps mitigate security risks and vulnerabilities, safeguarding applications from potential breaches.
5. Tooling and Developer Experience: Java 17's improvements to JDK tools and development utilities enhance developer productivity and debugging capabilities, streamlining the development process. Similarly, Java 11's enhancements to tooling and profiling tools like Java Mission Control improve performance analysis and optimization, enabling developers to deliver high-quality software with improved efficiency.
Overall, each of these feature differences makes Java 17 6% faster than Java 11, along with other distinct advantages that impact various aspects of software development. Hence, from code maintainability and performance, to security and developer experience, understanding these differences helps organisations make informed decisions about version adoption based on their specific requirements and priorities.
Strategies by which SaaS and Software Companies can Leverage Java 17 during Development
For Adopting New Language Features: SaaS and software companies can take advantage of the new language features introduced in Java 17, such as pattern matching for switch statements, sealed classes and interfaces, and updates to the instanceof operator. By incorporating these features into their codebase, companies can write more concise, readable, and maintainable code, leading to improved developer productivity and code quality. For instance, a survey by JetBrains found that 74% of developers report increased productivity when using modern language features.
In Optimising Performance and Efficiency: According to a study by New Relic, a 1-second delay in page load time can result in a 7% reduction in conversions. Java 17 includes various improvements to the Java platform, including updates to the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), garbage collectors, and performance optimizations. SaaS and software companies can leverage these improvements to achieve better performance, reduced memory footprint, and enhanced scalability for their applications. By optimising performance, companies can deliver faster and more responsive software experiences to their users, ultimately improving customer satisfaction and retention.
For Enhanced Security and Reliability: According to IBM, the average cost of a data breach is $3.86 million. This makes security a top priority for SaaS and software companies, especially when dealing with sensitive data and mission-critical applications. Java 17 includes security enhancements to protect against vulnerabilities and strengthen the overall security of the Java platform. Companies can leverage these enhancements to build more secure and resilient applications, mitigate risks, and comply with regulatory requirements. By prioritising security, companies can safeguard their applications and data against cyber threats and unauthorised access, enhancing trust and confidence among users.
In Ensuring Compatibility and Long-Term Support: According to a survey by Azul Systems, 85% of enterprise users prefer LTS versions for production deployment. When adopting Java 17, SaaS and software companies are to consider factors like compatibility with existing codebases, libraries, and frameworks. While Java 17 maintains backward compatibility with previous Java versions, companies should conduct thorough testing to ensure smooth migration and minimise disruptions to existing systems. Additionally, since Java 17 is a non-LTS (Long-Term Support) release, companies are encouraged to plan their upgrades and maintenance strategies accordingly, considering their long-term support requirements and business objectives.
By leveraging these strategies, SaaS and software companies can harness the power of Java 17 to build more innovative, efficient, and secure applications that meet the evolving needs of their customers and stakeholders.
Choosing the right programming language for a SaaS or software product is akin to laying the foundation for a sturdy building. It sets the tone for everything that follows, impacting not only the development process but also the performance, scalability, and overall success of the product. One critical aspect affected by the choice of programming language is development speed. Some languages offer frameworks and libraries that streamline development, allowing teams to build and iterate features quickly. On the other hand, using a language with a steep learning curve or limited community support can lead to slower progress and increased development costs.
Scalability is another crucial consideration. Certain languages and platforms are better suited for handling large-scale applications and managing increased user loads. Choosing the wrong language in this regard can result in performance bottlenecks, downtimes, and ultimately, a poor user experience. Moreover, the choice of programming language can impact the long-term maintenance of the product. Languages with strong community support and active development ecosystems tend to receive regular updates, security patches, and enhancements, ensuring the product remains stable and secure over time.
Furthermore, the selection of a programming language can influence the product's competitiveness and functionality. Some languages excel in specific domains or industries, offering built-in features or libraries tailored to those use cases. Opting for a language that aligns closely with the product's requirements can provide a competitive edge and enhance its capabilities.
In summary, the choice of programming language is a critical decision that can significantly impact the success or failure of a SaaS or software product. By carefully considering factors such as development speed, scalability, maintenance, and functionality, SaaS and development companies can make informed decisions that set their products up for long-term success.
