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Dumb question, but what are the licensing implications between using an OpenJDK vs the official Oracle Release of the JDK?

samus 2y ago
Forgive me if I answer with a counter-question, but why would you use the Oracle distribution without paying for Oracle support too?
- rafram 2y ago
  Because it’s what came up when you googled “install java on aws”.
ludovicianul 2y ago
They are both free (Oracle relaxed their license in 2021) with some caveats. If you choose Oracle, to continue to be free, you must always use latest Java version, otherwise you need to pay for security patches. This means updating every 6 months with each Java release.
daitangio 2y ago
Yes. Oracle version is not free anymore: you need at least an Oracle product to use it. As far as I know, it is "free of charge" if you have an Oracle DB license. So avoid oracle version outside enterprise contract
- ludovicianul 2y ago
  It's free. But you must always use latest Java.
jillesvangurp 2y ago
Unless you need Oracle's JDK specifically, use one of several certified OpenJDK distributions. Amazon Coretto is a popular choice and they already have a v24 version. There are a few others. Temurin (weird name but basically the eclipse.org one) doesn't yet have one but is popular. At this point there is no/little functional difference between distributions. The main reasons for using Oracle's distribution are usually non-technical and have to do with compliance, existing license & support agreements with Oracle. Unless you are a bank (or similar organization) that has deals with Oracle on this or your CIO/CTO/legal tells you to use Oracle, you should avoid Oracle. There is no technical advantage and you potentially expose yourself to complicated licensing and commercial requirements and related auditing requirements.
- pron 2y ago
  All OpenJDK distributions, from all vendors, are also licensed by Oracle (which develops OpenJDK) with the GPLv2+CPE licence. The vendors build Oracle's source code and host branded binaries. If you file an issue, unless it's a problem with the build, they just forward it to Oracle. Oracle also distributes the JDK with that same licence here: https://jdk.java.net https://jdk.java.net, so there are two Oracle distributions with two different licences, both free but one open-source.

samus 2y ago

Forgive me if I answer with a counter-question, but why would you use the Oracle distribution without paying for Oracle support too?

rafram 2y ago
Because it’s what came up when you googled “install java on aws”.

ludovicianul 2y ago

They are both free (Oracle relaxed their license in 2021) with some caveats. If you choose Oracle, to continue to be free, you must always use latest Java version, otherwise you need to pay for security patches. This means updating every 6 months with each Java release.

daitangio 2y ago

Yes. Oracle version is not free anymore: you need at least an Oracle product to use it. As far as I know, it is "free of charge" if you have an Oracle DB license. So avoid oracle version outside enterprise contract

ludovicianul 2y ago
It's free. But you must always use latest Java.

jillesvangurp 2y ago

Unless you need Oracle's JDK specifically, use one of several certified OpenJDK distributions. Amazon Coretto is a popular choice and they already have a v24 version. There are a few others. Temurin (weird name but basically the eclipse.org one) doesn't yet have one but is popular. At this point there is no/little functional difference between distributions. The main reasons for using Oracle's distribution are usually non-technical and have to do with compliance, existing license & support agreements with Oracle. Unless you are a bank (or similar organization) that has deals with Oracle on this or your CIO/CTO/legal tells you to use Oracle, you should avoid Oracle. There is no technical advantage and you potentially expose yourself to complicated licensing and commercial requirements and related auditing requirements.

pron 2y ago
All OpenJDK distributions, from all vendors, are also licensed by Oracle (which develops OpenJDK) with the GPLv2+CPE licence. The vendors build Oracle's source code and host branded binaries. If you file an issue, unless it's a problem with the build, they just forward it to Oracle. Oracle also distributes the JDK with that same licence here: https://jdk.java.net https://jdk.java.net, so there are two Oracle distributions with two different licences, both free but one open-source.