Introduction

Java 21 introduced a number of new features that are designed to help developers craft enterprise-level applications. These enhancements can improve how quickly and smoothly applications run while making coding simpler for developers. Highlights include:

In this podcast episode, we would like to invite you to listen to the conversation we had with Otavio Santana. Otavio is a passionate architect and software engineer and a very prominent persona in the Java EE and Jakarta Community. He is a Java Champion, recognized for his vast contributions to the Java and open source ecosystem. He is a committer and leader in several open source products and specifications.

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Java has been a staple in the software development world for decades, renowned for its robustness and vast ecosystem. However, some seasoned Java developers have encountered limitations within its collections framework, particularly when dealing with ordered elements. Enter JEP 431. JEP 431, part of the Java Enhancement Proposal system, represents a significant advancement in Java's ongoing evolution. The Java Enhancement Proposal system is a process for proposing, reviewing, and implementing new features in the Java programming language. JEP 431, in particular, introduces necessary enhancements to the Java Collections Framework, addressing longstanding limitations and expanding its capabilities for us Java developers.

In this podcast episode, we’d like to invite you to listen to the conversation we recently had with Ken Fogel. Ken is a well known expert in Java and Jakarta EE industry, he’s been working with Java for over 20 years.  Unsurprisingly, he is also a Java Champion, and a Java Community Process Executive Committee member. He is an active conference organizer, very prominent and active in the Java, Java EE and Jakarta EE community.

So there’s no wonder why we had to invite him to our podcast!

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It's time for the November Payara Monthly Catch! Our monthly news roundup ensures you get the best news of Java, Jakarta EE, MicroProfile, and open source. 

Let's have a look at the most interesting and important news from last month.

Garbage collection is a cornerstone feature in the Java Language. It automates memory management by reclaiming memory occupied by objects that are no longer in use, freeing you the developer up from manual memory allocation and deallocation tasks. This feature is vital for preventing memory leaks and ensuring that applications run efficiently over time.

Java's journey towards fostering more expressive and efficient code has taken a remarkable leap with the advent of Record Patterns, encapsulated in JEP 440. This feature, previewed in both Java 19 and Java 20, is now a part of the language from Java 21, marking a significant stride towards reducing the verbosity traditionally associated with Java language. In this post, we will delve into the essence of Record Patterns, take a look at its benefits, and explore how it fits in with the existing pattern matching capabilities of Java.

In the world of programming, stepping stones are crucial for novices to transition into proficient developers. This journey often begins with understanding the syntax and semantics of a given programming language. Java, being one of the popular programming languages, has always aimed to be an effective medium for both novices and experienced developers. The recent release of Java 21 introduced a core feature, known as Unnamed Classes and Instance Main Methods through JEP 445, aimed at simplifying the learning curve for new programmers, making it easier for them to write their first program without much fanfare and verbosity.

Pattern Matching for switch, introduced in Java 21 via JEP 441, marks a significant enhancement to the Java programming language, offering a more expressive and compact way to handle complex decision blocks. This feature extends the existing switch construct by allowing patterns in case labels, thus facilitating more concise, readable, and safe code when dealing with multi-way comparisons​​.

Java 21 introduces the Foreign Function and Memory (FFM) API, which allows Java programs to interoperate with code and data outside the Java runtime. Java operates within a managed environment known as the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). The JVM serves as an abstraction layer between the executing Java code and the underlying hardware and OS. One of the core design principles behind the JVM is to provide a secure and isolated environment for Java applications to run. This isolation is beneficial for several reasons, including security and stability; it mitigates risks such as unauthorized access to system resources or memory corruption, which could lead to vulnerabilities like buffer overflows.