What’s Changed in Java Versions: New Features and Deprecation

Java's Journey Through Time

Java has been around for over two decades, powering robust applications across industries. It has consistently ranked as one of the most popular programming languages for building enterprise-grade applications. With the release of Java 23 and the end of support for Java 11, modern development now requires Java 17 as the baseline or newer versions.

Between Java 17 and 23, a lot has evolved. So, what’s changed? We’ll explore the journey Java has undergone to reach this level of maturity.

This article delves into the evolution of Java, the history of its versions, and the latest updates. If you're curious about the newest features in Java and how it’s shaping the future of development, keep reading.

Common Terms Used in Java Versions

1. JVM (Java Virtual Machine)

JVM is platform-dependent and executes the bytecode generated by the Java compiler. It provides the runtime environment for applications to execute. JVM manages the memory, registers, and garbage collection heap.

2. JRE (Java Runtime Environment)

JRE provides the environment to run Java programs. It includes the JVM and Java class libraries. Essentially, it’s a package of tools required to execute Java code.

3. JDK (Java Development Kit)

JDK is a complete toolkit for developing Java applications. It includes JRE, compilers, a debugger, and tools like Javadoc. It enables developers to create, compile, and run Java code. Since running Java programs is part of development, JDK requires a JRE.

4. Bytecode

Bytecode is the intermediate code generated by the Java compiler (saved in a .class file). With the help of JVM, this .class file can run on any system, making Java platform-independent.

Java 1.0

Java entered the scene with a promise that changed the software landscape forever—Write Once, Run Anywhere. It introduced the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), allowing developers to write code that could run on any device with a JVM, regardless of the underlying hardware. Memory management was automated, making developers’ lives easier. No major deprecations—this was just the start of it all.

Java 1.1

Java 1.1 began building on its foundations, adding inner classes and event listeners. These features made Java applications more dynamic and interactive, improving how developers could structure and manage their code.

Java 1.2

Java 1.2 was where things started to get exciting. It introduced the Collections Framework, Swing (for better GUIs), and the JIT compiler, which made performance much faster. This version made Java more capable of handling complex applications, especially with its introduction of the Java 2 Platform (J2EE) for enterprise applications.

Java 1.3

Java 1.3 focused on performance, thanks to the HotSpot JVM. The addition of Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EE) opened the door for building more scalable enterprise applications. While there weren’t any groundbreaking features, it set the stage for the rapid evolution to come.

Java 1.4

This version saw the introduction of regular expressions for easier text pattern matching, NIO (New I/O) for improved I/O performance, and Java Web Start, which allowed users to launch applications directly from a web browser. However, applets were slowly losing relevance and began to be deprecated in favor of more modern web technologies.

Java 5

Java 5 (also known as 1.5) was one of the most significant updates in Java’s history. It introduced generics, annotations, and enumerated types, making Java code safer and more efficient. It also introduced the enhanced for-loop, which simplified iteration over collections. It was a major shift—so big, it was almost named Java 1.5 instead.

Java 6

Java 6 focused heavily on performance improvements, including enhancements to the Java Compiler API and Java Virtual Machine. It also brought in features for easier web services integration. Java became more powerful, but no major deprecations took place—Java 6 was about refining what already existed.

Java 7

With Java 7, the language got a lot more developer-friendly. Features like try-with-resources and the diamond operator made coding cleaner. The Fork/Join framework was introduced for better parallel processing. However, applets were officially deprecated, signaling a shift away from Java’s use in browsers.

Java 8

Java 8 is considered one of the most significant updates ever, with lambda expressions and streams bringing functional programming concepts to the language. This made Java much more concise and expressive. The new Date/Time API replaced the outdated Date class, and default methods in interfaces allowed for more flexible code. Still, Applets were officially removed, as they were no longer relevant.