Oracle’s Oracle Java Platform Extension to Support Current and Upcoming JDK Releases
Oracle has released the Oracle Java Platform extension for Visual Studio Code, bringing comprehensive Java development capabilities to Microsoft’s popular code editor, particularly for Maven and Gradle projects.
Available in the Visual Studio Marketplace under VS Code, Oracle unveiled this extension on October 18. It supports the entire development lifecycle from editing and compiling to debugging and testing. Oracle highlighted features such as class-level and variable refactorings, project views, auto-completion, error highlighting, and jump-to-definition capabilities. Additionally, the extension includes robust support for unit testing with JUnit.
According to Oracle, the increasing adoption of Visual Studio Code as a versatile IDE has reshaped developers’ expectations. Previously, developers chose a language and then an IDE; now, with language-agnostic IDEs like VS Code, developers anticipate robust support for multiple languages, including Java. This shift is particularly notable among Java developers, including students and those working with multiple programming languages simultaneously.
For language support, Oracle’s VS Code extension utilizes a language server at its core, adhering to the Language Server Protocol. This server, derived from Apache NetBeans, facilitates efficient communication between the IDE and Java’s tools.
Powered by the OpenJDK javac compiler, Oracle’s language server ensures that VS Code remains up-to-date with the latest features introduced in new JDK releases. Currently, the extension supports both the current JDK releases and the upcoming JDK version, with JDK 21 being the latest release as of September.
In addition to Oracle’s offering, Microsoft provides its own Java development tools through an Extension Pack for Java on VS Code. This pack integrates a suite of extensions designed for writing, testing, and debugging Java applications seamlessly within the VS Code environment.
Leveraging the OpenJDK javac compiler for code editing and compilation, Oracle’s language server will enable VS Code support for new JDK (Java Development Kit) features as soon as they are introduced. Oracle’s VS Code extension will support current JDK releases and the next upcoming JDK version. The current version is JDK 21, released in September.