6 ms·

Is there a reason to use Oracle's closed-source Java implementation instead of the opensource implementations? Asking as someone who's ignorant about Java. edi

by hu3 5y ago

Is there a reason to use Oracle's closed-source Java implementation instead of the opensource implementations? Asking as someone who's ignorant about Java. edit: per comments below, Oracle's Java is open-source too these days.

deleted 5y ago
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water8 5y ago
Licensing. Oracle requires a commercial license
- lgessler 5y ago
  That's a reason not to use Oracle--GP's asking for a reason to use Oracle.
  - water8 5y ago
    OpenJDK:Ubuntu::OracleJDK:RedHat
- ajoberstar 5y ago
  You can get a paid commercial support license for Oracle's JDK to get an extended maintenance window. But Oracle's publicly available builds don't require a paid license. However,they only provide public builds of the current Java version. If you want LTS, you have to pay them or use another vendors builds.
  - carimura 5y ago
    That's changed a bit. As of JDK 17, Oracle offers Oracle JDK builds under the NFTC license [1], free for use in production with updates overlapping the next LTS version. [1] https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/javase/jdk-faqs.html https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/javase/jdk-faqs.htm...
    - water8 5y ago
      Currently though, a lot of Java software is still java version 8 or 11 which Oracle is withholding LTS for commercial customers
ajoberstar 5y ago
Oracle's builds of Java are open source as well. The OpenJDK codebase is shared across all of the vendors that provide builds.
- teilo 5y ago
  "Open Source" but not free to use as you wish. The Oracle builds require a commercial license.
  - papercrane 5y ago
    In this case it means GPL+Classpath Exception. The link goes to the Oracle provided OpenJDK builds. Oracle also has their own build of the JDK which is not GPL. That is free to use in commercial software as well, under their "No-Fee Terms and Conditions"
    - freedomben 5y ago
      I think you're correct right now, but Oracle has a tendency to change their minds frequently. Tomorrow you might be migrating or paying.
  - ajoberstar 5y ago
    Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't see that called out anywhere. I don't believe that's true anymore, but correct me if I'm wrong. For reference I double checked here: https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/downloads/ https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/downloads/
    - wccrawford 5y ago
      There used to be really prominent banners telling you about it. I don't see them now, but I'm also not sure they switched back. Here's an article I found explaining the switch to requiring paid usage. https://blog.netwrix.com/2021/12/02/oracle-java-license-change-everything-you-need-to-know/ https://blog.netwrix.com/2021/12/02/oracle-java-license-chan...
usrusr 5y ago
If all else has been eliminated: kickbacks perhaps?
dboreham 5y ago
For some purposes a tested validated binary may be appropriate vs mystery meat someone threw through a compiler then shipped without testing.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- mdaniel 5y ago
  That's actually why I prefer Azul's openjdk builds over adoptopenjdk or other distros: it's sane but not in contact with the Oracle swamp https://www.azul.com/downloads/?package=jdk#download-openjdk https://www.azul.com/downloads/?package=jdk#download-openjdk https://hub.docker.com/r/azul/zulu-openjdk https://hub.docker.com/r/azul/zulu-openjdk
  - pjmlp 5y ago
    Majority of OpenJDK code is tainted with Oracle's paycheck swap.
    - gunnarmorling 5y ago
      I don't get that sentiment, at all. Why would you be complaining about Oracle sponsoring JDK development (the resources they put into it are tremendous), which you can benefit from absolutely for free, 100%, no strings attached whatsoever? Can you help me to understand the reasoning here, because it just doesn't make sense to me.
      - pjmlp 5y ago
        It doesn't mean to me either, I was only making a point for the typical Oracle bashers that still haven't got the memo that OpenJDK is anyway mostly done by Oracle employees, while using the same style from the parent post.
vips7L 5y ago
Some people like support contracts. It gives you someone to blame when the auditors come knocking.
- thfuran 5y ago
  But does anyone like being involved with Oracle? There are other java vendors that offer support.
  - native_samples 5y ago
    There are, but Oracle employ the vast bulk of the JVM and standard library experts in the world so they are in a position to offer far better support.
  - jameson 5y ago
    Probably not for the most of the tech companies nowadays, but there are still large companies who still uses Oracle products, so they might pay Oracle Java support as a package deal most likely. I think it'll be very atypical for a companies who doesn't use any of the Oracle product to use proprietary Oracle Java and pay for the support
ldargin 5y ago
If you have to ask, you don't need Oracle's Java.
Sharat_Chander 5y ago
Oracle OpenJDK is an open-source Java release: https://jdk.java.net/18/ https://jdk.java.net/18/
sandGorgon 5y ago
AWS Corretto is a good option - https://aws.amazon.com/corretto/ https://aws.amazon.com/corretto/ its fully certified and production ready. And most importantly - official Docker image https://hub.docker.com/_/amazoncorretto https://hub.docker.com/_/amazoncorretto Even oracle JDK does not come with a supported, official image
deleted 5y ago
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by hu3 5y ago

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

water8 5y ago

Licensing. Oracle requires a commercial license

lgessler 5y ago
That's a reason not to use Oracle--GP's asking for a reason to use Oracle.
- water8 5y ago
  OpenJDK:Ubuntu::OracleJDK:RedHat
ajoberstar 5y ago
You can get a paid commercial support license for Oracle's JDK to get an extended maintenance window. But Oracle's publicly available builds don't require a paid license. However,they only provide public builds of the current Java version. If you want LTS, you have to pay them or use another vendors builds.
- carimura 5y ago
  That's changed a bit. As of JDK 17, Oracle offers Oracle JDK builds under the NFTC license [1], free for use in production with updates overlapping the next LTS version. [1] https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/javase/jdk-faqs.html https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/javase/jdk-faqs.htm...
  - water8 5y ago
    Currently though, a lot of Java software is still java version 8 or 11 which Oracle is withholding LTS for commercial customers

ajoberstar 5y ago

Oracle's builds of Java are open source as well. The OpenJDK codebase is shared across all of the vendors that provide builds.

teilo 5y ago
"Open Source" but not free to use as you wish. The Oracle builds require a commercial license.
- papercrane 5y ago
  In this case it means GPL+Classpath Exception. The link goes to the Oracle provided OpenJDK builds. Oracle also has their own build of the JDK which is not GPL. That is free to use in commercial software as well, under their "No-Fee Terms and Conditions"
  - freedomben 5y ago
    I think you're correct right now, but Oracle has a tendency to change their minds frequently. Tomorrow you might be migrating or paying.
- ajoberstar 5y ago
  Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't see that called out anywhere. I don't believe that's true anymore, but correct me if I'm wrong. For reference I double checked here: https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/downloads/ https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/downloads/
  - wccrawford 5y ago
    There used to be really prominent banners telling you about it. I don't see them now, but I'm also not sure they switched back. Here's an article I found explaining the switch to requiring paid usage. https://blog.netwrix.com/2021/12/02/oracle-java-license-change-everything-you-need-to-know/ https://blog.netwrix.com/2021/12/02/oracle-java-license-chan...

usrusr 5y ago

If all else has been eliminated: kickbacks perhaps?

dboreham 5y ago

For some purposes a tested validated binary may be appropriate vs mystery meat someone threw through a compiler then shipped without testing.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
mdaniel 5y ago
That's actually why I prefer Azul's openjdk builds over adoptopenjdk or other distros: it's sane but not in contact with the Oracle swamp https://www.azul.com/downloads/?package=jdk#download-openjdk https://www.azul.com/downloads/?package=jdk#download-openjdk https://hub.docker.com/r/azul/zulu-openjdk https://hub.docker.com/r/azul/zulu-openjdk
- pjmlp 5y ago
  Majority of OpenJDK code is tainted with Oracle's paycheck swap.
  - gunnarmorling 5y ago
    I don't get that sentiment, at all. Why would you be complaining about Oracle sponsoring JDK development (the resources they put into it are tremendous), which you can benefit from absolutely for free, 100%, no strings attached whatsoever? Can you help me to understand the reasoning here, because it just doesn't make sense to me.
    - pjmlp 5y ago
      It doesn't mean to me either, I was only making a point for the typical Oracle bashers that still haven't got the memo that OpenJDK is anyway mostly done by Oracle employees, while using the same style from the parent post.

vips7L 5y ago

Some people like support contracts. It gives you someone to blame when the auditors come knocking.

thfuran 5y ago
But does anyone like being involved with Oracle? There are other java vendors that offer support.
- native_samples 5y ago
  There are, but Oracle employ the vast bulk of the JVM and standard library experts in the world so they are in a position to offer far better support.
- jameson 5y ago
  Probably not for the most of the tech companies nowadays, but there are still large companies who still uses Oracle products, so they might pay Oracle Java support as a package deal most likely. I think it'll be very atypical for a companies who doesn't use any of the Oracle product to use proprietary Oracle Java and pay for the support

ldargin 5y ago

If you have to ask, you don't need Oracle's Java.

Sharat_Chander 5y ago

Oracle OpenJDK is an open-source Java release: https://jdk.java.net/18/ https://jdk.java.net/18/

sandGorgon 5y ago

AWS Corretto is a good option - https://aws.amazon.com/corretto/ https://aws.amazon.com/corretto/ its fully certified and production ready. And most importantly - official Docker image https://hub.docker.com/_/amazoncorretto https://hub.docker.com/_/amazoncorretto Even oracle JDK does not come with a supported, official image

deleted 5y ago

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