The News:
The Eclipse Foundation and the Adoptium Working Group have announced the latest release of Eclipse Temurin, the open source Java SE runtime, alongside two strategic initiatives: a new ROI calculator for enterprises migrating to open source Java, and the launch of the Temurin Sustainer Program to ensure long-term viability and innovation of the project. To read more, visit the Eclipse Foundation press release.
Analysis:
With Java licensing and support costs continuing to rise, many enterprises are reevaluating their long-term Java strategies. According to industry analysts, more than 70% of enterprises currently run mission-critical applications on Java, but only a fraction have made the shift to open source alternatives. Eclipse Temurin’s rapid growth—surging from 380 million downloads last year to more than 600 million today—signals a seismic shift toward open, community-supported runtimes. This transformation is not just ideological; it is increasingly financial, with the new ROI calculator estimating average annual savings of $1.6 million for enterprises that switch.
What This Means for Developers
The latest release—covering versions 8u452, 11.0.27, 17.0.15, 21.0.7, and 24.0.1—brings updates that address security, platform coverage, and performance. Developers running on AIX ppc64 systems benefit from expanded JDK 24 support, while those deploying in containerized environments will note streamlined Docker image support. The reversion of AWT behavior on Windows also prevents regressions that previously hindered headless deployments. With these updates, Temurin positions itself not merely as a drop-in replacement for commercial runtimes but as a robust and evolving platform.
How Enterprises Have Managed Java Costs Until Now
Traditionally, enterprise Java has been synonymous with high license costs and proprietary support agreements. Organizations looking for production-grade alternatives have either stayed with legacy commercial vendors or experimented with vendor-specific open JDK builds, often trading savings for support compromises. Temurin now offers a vendor-neutral, fully open source alternative that is backed by a growing industry coalition and a structured working group.
How This Changes the Game Going Forward
The introduction of the Temurin Sustainer Program gives enterprises an opportunity to formalize their support for the platform without reintroducing licensing burdens. Modeled after similar successful initiatives like the Linux Foundation’s Core Infrastructure Fund, this approach allows companies to channel savings back into the ecosystem, supporting improved test automation (e.g., Eclipse AQAvit), security responsiveness, and faster release cycles. It’s a sustainable funding model aligned with developer-first principles and long-term enterprise needs.
Looking Ahead:
The future of Java will likely hinge on how quickly enterprises adopt cost-efficient, community-supported alternatives. With clear economic advantages and a renewed focus on quality and test automation, Eclipse Temurin is positioned as the leading vendor-neutral Java runtime. As licensing battles persist and budgets tighten, CIOs and platform teams will increasingly see open source Java not as a risky experiment, but as a default strategy.
By introducing the ROI calculator and the Sustainer Program, the Eclipse Foundation is building a blueprint for open source sustainability at scale. Expect broader industry engagement and potentially even more aggressive moves by commercial vendors to defend market share. For developers and DevOps teams, this means more freedom, better tools, and increasing control over their Java stack.
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