Revitalizing Legacy Java: BellSoft's Latest JVM 21 Upgrade
Delivers faster startup, lower latency, and better throughput for legacy Java apps
BellSoft, the creator of Liberica JDK, has unveiled an exciting upgrade of their Liberica JDK Performance Edition, which now integrates the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) from JDK 21. This upgrade aims to offer significant performance enhancement for organizations still reliant on Java 8 and 11, with no requirements for code changes or migration.
According to Alexander Belokrylov, co-founder and CEO of BellSoft, "This upgrade is about future-proofing without the hassle." Many firms prefer to stick with Java 8 or 11 not because they lag, but because these platforms are stable and seamlessly integrated into their workflows. The Liberica JDK Performance Edition provides a simple drop-in method to leverage the benefits of JDK 21, allowing teams to maximize performance without altering their existing codebase. The approach taken respects the realities of enterprise development and enables practical engineering solutions.
Recent studies reveal that even as newer long-term support (LTS) Java versions continue to emerge, a notable number of organizations find themselves depending on earlier versions. A recent survey indicates that a considerable percentage of businesses still utilize Java 8, and many developers continue to support applications on Java 11 or earlier. Performance enhancement remains a crucial focus, with many businesses allocating budgets specifically for this purpose. The Liberica JDK Performance Edition allows these teams to achieve improved performance without the need for extensive code rewrites or additional resources spent on workarounds.
The Liberica JDK Performance Edition, initially launched in April 2024, was designed to dramatically enhance the performance of legacy Java applications. The latest iteration showcases improved performance by incorporating core JVM and HotSpot functionalities from JDK 21 into builds compatible with both JDK 8 and 11. This allows enterprises to benefit from modern Java runtime performance while enjoying plug-and-play simplicity.
Key Improvements in the Upgrade
- Upgraded JVM core from JDK 17 to JDK 21 for JDK 8 and 11 builds.
- Provides performance boosts of 5 to 10% in most scenarios, along with gains of up to 40% in specific cases.
- Offers quicker startup times, reduced latency, and enhanced compression speeds through zlib-ng—a modern data compression library.
Performance and Runtime Enhancements
The latest performance edition has incorporated production-ready ZGC with generational support, refined G1GC, NUMA-aware tuning, and helpful runtime tools like AppCDS and a segmented code cache. The advanced compression technology via zlib-ng demonstrates impressive improvements for I/O-intensive applications.
Benchmark Results
Extensive testing of the Liberica JDK Performance Edition against standard OpenJDK builds, utilizing the Spring PetClinic as the reference application, has shown remarkable gains across multiple performance metrics. Notable improvements include more than doubling the compression speed, with a 126% increase in compression efficiency and a 149% enhancement in decompression. In enterprise workload evaluations using SpecJBB, throughput nearly doubled, showcasing a 100% increase in critical JOps along with a 43% boost in MaxJOps during small-memory configurations with G1GC. Additionally, latency during memory-intensive operations was reduced by nearly 100% when transitioning from JDK 8 G1GC to the Performance Edition with ZGC. These advancements illustrate significant advantages for applications relying on high throughput and low-latency performance.
Availability of Liberica JDK Performance Edition
The upgraded Liberica JDK Performance Edition is now available for JDK 8 and JDK 11 across both x86_64 and AArch64 architectures. The builds are compatible with various operating systems including Linux, Windows, and macOS, all powered by the JVM from JDK 21. Support for additional configurations and environments can be requested as necessary.
About BellSoft
BellSoft is committed to delivering the most comprehensive Java experience through its Liberica JDK platform. This solution provides a unified Java experience, ensuring security, reliability, and cost-effectiveness in application development. BellSoft empowers developers to build, run, and manage Java applications across diverse platforms and environments. As a significant contributor to OpenJDK, BellSoft stands out as the runtime of choice for prominent organizations like VMware and JetBrains, serving millions of use cases globally and helping companies innovate every day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main benefit of the Liberica JDK Performance Edition upgrade?
The upgrade offers significant performance improvements for legacy Java applications without requiring code changes, thereby facilitating a smoother transition to modern Java performance.
Which Java versions does the Liberica JDK Performance Edition support?
The Performance Edition supports Java 8 and Java 11, making it suitable for organizations that still rely on these versions.
How does the new JVM in the update enhance performance?
The integration of JVM from JDK 21 allows for faster startup times, lower latency, and better throughput in legacy Java applications.
What improvements have been reported in benchmarking tests?
Benchmark tests have revealed improvements such as up to 100% increase in throughput and significant enhancements in compression and decompression speeds.
Is the Liberica JDK Performance Edition available on all platforms?
Yes, the Performance Edition is available for major operating systems including Linux, Windows, and macOS, and is compatible with x86_64 and AArch64 architectures.
