Microsoft Build for OpenJDK 21: Free Binaries Available Now, Coming Soon to Azure PaaS Services
Microsoft has swiftly followed Oracle’s release of Java 21 by offering its own version of the OpenJDK 21, available free of charge. Released on September 28, the Microsoft Build of OpenJDK 21 supports Linux, Windows, and Mac platforms.
This release introduces several distinguishing features, including enhanced Java learning tools with previews of unnamed classes, instance methods, patterns, and variables. It also includes previews of the Generational ZGC (Z Garbage Collector) for improved performance and virtual threads for high-throughput concurrent applications.
Microsoft commits to long-term support for its OpenJDK 21 binaries, with updates delivered quarterly through microsoft.com/openjdk at no cost. This mirrors Oracle’s approach with Java 21 designated as a long-term support release, ensuring a minimum of eight years of support. Microsoft has previously offered OpenJDK builds for JDK 17 and JDK 11, both also LTS releases, since announcing the Microsoft Build of OpenJDK in April 2021.
Looking ahead, Microsoft plans to integrate JDK 21 across its Azure Platform as a Service (PaaS) offerings, enhancing Java application deployment flexibility. They are introducing the Windows Container JVM Launcher as a proof-of-concept tool to enable running Java applications within Windows Containers in process isolation mode.
Additionally, Microsoft has unveiled Semantic Kernel for Java version 0.2.9, currently in alpha. This lightweight SDK facilitates the seamless integration of large language models for generative AI with traditional programming languages like Java. The Semantic Kernel aims to empower developers to augment Java applications with enhanced intelligence, leveraging large language models for innovative functionalities.
These initiatives underscore Microsoft’s commitment to advancing Java development and enhancing developer productivity through robust tooling and integration capabilities across its cloud services. Microsoft also said that JDK 21 soon would be available across Azure PaaS cloud services. The company is offering a proof-of-concept launcher, called Windows Container JVM Launcher, to run Java inside Windows Containers in process isolation mode.
In addition, Microsoft announced a new release of Semantic Kernel for Java, version 0.2.9, which it described as being an alpha state. Semantic Kernel is lightweight SDK for integrating large language models for generative AI with conventional programming languages. The new library will help developers enhance Java applications with augmented intelligence via idiomatic integration of large language models.