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//java present and future/
T
here is a lot happening in Java, and in this issue we do our best to make the state of
Java as clear as possible. We begin with the largest survey ever (page 15) of Java devel-
opers: more than 10,500 responses were received to the questionnaire we ran with the
security startup Snyk. The data is as interesting as it is substantial. The survey covers
JDK, tools in use, processes, and finally a profile of Java developers.
We follow that up with a look at Java 11 (page 39), which was released in September: what’s
in this release that you need to know about—such as changes to lambda syntax, a new HTTP
client, and the updated WebSocket interface. The Java 11 release was the first in several years
not to include JavaFX, which has been spun out from the JDK. This means that JavaFX can evolve
on its own timeline, which is discussed (page 62) by Johan Vos, one of its
principal developers.
We also examine upcoming technology from the Valhalla project
(page 56), which promises to make it far easier and faster to access primi-
tive data types. This performance enhancement will be particularly welcome
when accessing objects in arrays, as Ben Evans explains in his deep look
inside the JVM.
Finally, the product management team for Java explains recent changes
(page 52) to the licensing model. In addition, we have a deep dive into the
decorator design pattern (page 67), our quiz (page 78), and our book review
(page 8), as well as our calendar of upcoming developer conferences and
events (page 9).Java—Where We Are
and What’s Coming
SURVEY OF JAVA DEVELOPERS 15
WHAT’S NEW IN JAVA 11 39
PROJECT VALHALLA 56
FUTURE OF JAVAFX 62
JAVA LICENSING EXPLAINED 5212 JAVA
LNG11
JAVA
ART BY WES ROWELL