Step Up Software Development With Java 24

Java 24, released this March by Oracle, continues the tradition of innovation and excellence that has been the hallmark of Java since its inception. With its advanced features and enhancements, such as the quantum-resistant module, Java 24 will empower developers to create secure, high-performance, and scalable applications.

Java has long been a stalwart in the programming world, renowned for its stability, robustness, and cross-platform capabilities. As modern technologies evolve rapidly, Java continues to hold its ground, alongside newer languages such as Python, JavaScript, and Go, each bringing unique strengths to the table.

Java’s longevity can be attributed to several key factors. First and foremost, its principle of ‘write once, run anywhere’ has made it a versatile choice for developers across various platforms, from mobile devices to large-scale enterprise systems. This cross-platform capability ensures that Java applications can run on any device equipped with the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), thus broadening its applicability and appeal.

Moreover, Java’s extensive standard libraries provide developers with pre-built functions and tools that accelerate the development process, making it easier to implement complex functionalities without the need to start from scratch. The language’s strong community support and comprehensive documentation further contribute to its resilience, as developers can readily access resources and collaborate on problem-solving.

Java has also evolved to keep pace with technological advancements. The language has incorporated modern programming paradigms, such as lambda expressions and the Stream API, which enable more expressive and concise code. These enhancements help Java remain competitive with newer languages that prioritise developer productivity and code readability.

Java 24, released by Oracle, continues this legacy of innovation and efficiency.

Historical overview and growth of Java

Java was originally developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems and released in 1995. From its modest beginnings, Java has undergone numerous transformations, emerging stronger and more efficient with each iteration. The initial release, Java 1.0, introduced the world to the ‘write once, run anywhere’ philosophy, which allowed developers to create cross-platform applications with ease. This was a game-changer in an era dominated by platform-specific software.

Key milestones of Java releases

Java 24 introduces several noteworthy features aimed at enhancing performance, memory handling, and developer productivity. Here is an overview of these features with corresponding examples.

Garbage collection enhancements

Java 24 brings further optimisations to garbage collection. The introduction of the new G1GC (Garbage First Garbage Collector) improves memory management and reduces pause times significantly. Here is an example demonstrating the optimisation:

public class GarbageCollectionExample {

public static void main(String[] args) {

for (int i = 0; i < 10000; i++) {

String temp = “String “ + i;

}

System.out.println(“Garbage Collection optimization in action.”);

}

}

Memory handling improvements

Memory handling has been fine-tuned in Java 24. The introduction of new APIs helps in better management and monitoring of memory usage. This ensures that applications run smoothly without unnecessary memory overhead.

public class MemoryHandlingExample {

public static void main(String[] args) {

long allocatedMemory = Runtime.getRuntime().totalMemory() - Runtime.getRuntime().freeMemory();

System.out.println(“Allocated Memory: “ + allocatedMemory + “ bytes”);

}

}

Performance enhancements

Java 24 focuses on performance with features like enhanced JIT (just-in-time) compilation and improvements in the HotSpot virtual machine. These features ensure faster execution of Java applications.

Lambda expressions

Lambda expressions, a feature introduced in Java 8, receive further enhancements in Java 24, making them even more powerful and versatile.

import java.util.stream.IntStream;

public class LambdaExample {

public static void main(String[] args) {

IntStream.range(1, 10).filter(i -> i % 2 == 0).forEach(System.out::println);

}

}

Integration packages

Java 24 introduces new integration packages that facilitate seamless integration with modern development frameworks and tools. This enhances the interoperability of Java with other technologies, streamlining the development process.

Structured concurrency

Structured concurrency in Java 24 is an incubator feature introduced to improve the maintainability, reliability, and observability of multi-threaded code. It enables tasks to be divided into smaller parts that can be executed in parallel in virtual threads within clearly defined source code blocks. This feature aims to minimise thread leaks and delays associated with cancellation and shutdown.

Structured concurrency capabilities are available in Java 19 and later versions, helping developers manage multithreaded code more effectively. To use structured concurrency in Java 24, follow these general steps.

Create a StructuredTaskScope: Use it with a ‘try-with-resources’ statement.

Define your subtasks: These should be instances of Callable.

Fork each subtask: Within the try block, fork each subtask in its own thread using StructuredTaskScope::fork.

Join the subtasks: Call StructuredTaskScope::join to wait for all subtasks to finish execution.

Handle the outcome: Process the results or exceptions from the subtasks.

Shutdown the StructuredTaskScope: Ensure that the StructuredTaskScope is shut down at the end of the try block.

import java.util.concurrent.ExecutionException;

import java.util.concurrent.Future;

import java.util.concurrent.StructuredTaskScope;

import java.util.concurrent.StructuredTaskScope.Subtask;

public class StructuredConcurrencyExample {

public static void main(String[] args) throws InterruptedException, ExecutionException, Exception {

try (var scope = new StructuredTaskScope<Object>()) {

Callable<String> task1 = () -> {

Thread.sleep(1000);

return “Task A completed”;

};

Callable<String> task2 = () -> {

Thread.sleep(500);

return “Task B completed”;

};

Subtask<String> subtask1 = scope.fork(task1);

Subtask<String> subtask2 = scope.fork(task2);

scope.join();

System.out.println(subtask1.get());

System.out.println(subtask2.get());

}

}

Quantum-resistant module for improved security

Java 24 includes a quantum-resistant module designed to improve the security of Java applications. It provides an implementation of the quantum-resistant Module-Lattice-Based Key-Encapsulation Mechanism (ML-KEM). This feature is a step towards post-quantum readiness and aims to deliver post-quantum cryptographic resilience.

Module-Lattice Digital Signature Algorithm (ML-DSA) implementations will be provided for the KeyPairGenerator API to generate ML-DSA key pairs, the Signature API to sign and verify ML-DSA signatures, and the KeyFactory API to convert ML-DSA keys to and from their encodings.

A new standard algorithm family name, ‘ML-DSA’, will be defined in the Java Security Standard Algorithm Names Specification for the KeyPairGenerator, Signature, and KeyFactory APIs.

ML-KEM is for key establishment, while ML-DSA is for digital signatures.

Generating ML-DSA key pairs can be done in one of three ways:

Choice 1: Create a KeyPairGenerator with the family name and initialise it using a parameter-set name:

KeyPairGenerator g = KeyPairGenerator.getInstance(“ML-DSA”);

g.initialize(NamedParameterSpec.ML_DSA_44);

KeyPair kp = g.generateKeyPair(); // an ML-DSA-44 key pair

Choice 2: If the KeyPairGenerator is not initialised with a specified parameter set, the implementation will default to ML-DSA-65:

KeyPairGenerator g = KeyPairGenerator.getInstance(“ML-DSA”);

KeyPair kp = g.generateKeyPair(); // an ML-DSA-65 key pair

Choice 3: Instantiate a KeyPairGenerator directly using a specified parameter-set name:

KeyPairGenerator g = KeyPairGenerator.getInstance(“ML-DSA-87”);

KeyPair kp = g.generateKeyPair(); // an ML-DSA-87 key pair:

ML-KEM:

import java.security.KeyPair;

import java.security.KeyPairGenerator;

import java.security.NoSuchAlgorithmException;

public class MLKEMTest {

public static void main(String[] args) {

// TODO Auto-generated method stub

try {

KeyPairGenerator keyPairGenerator = KeyPairGenerator.getInstance(“ML-KEM”);

KeyPair keyPair = keyPairGenerator.generateKeyPair();

System.out.println(“Public Key (ML-KEM): “ + keyPair.getPublic());

System.out.println(“Private Key (ML-KEM): “ + keyPair.getPrivate());

} catch (NoSuchAlgorithmException e) {

e.printStackTrace();

}

}

ML-DSA:

import java.security.KeyPair;

import java.security.KeyPairGenerator;

import java.security.NoSuchAlgorithmException;

import java.security.Signature;

import java.security.InvalidKeyException;

import java.security.SignatureException;

import java.util.Base64;

public class MLDSATest {

public static void main(String[] args) {

try {

KeyPairGenerator keyPairGenerator = KeyPairGenerator.getInstance(“ML-DSA”);

KeyPair keyPair = keyPairGenerator.generateKeyPair();

byte[] data = “This is the data to be signed”.getBytes();

Signature signature = Signature.getInstance(“ML-DSA”);

signature.initSign(keyPair.getPrivate());

signature.update(data);

byte[] digitalSignature = signature.sign();

System.out.println(“Digital Signature (ML-DSA): “ + Base64.getEncoder().encodeToString(digitalSignature));

signature.initVerify(keyPair.getPublic());

signature.update(data);

boolean isVerified = signature.verify(digitalSignature);

System.out.println(“ Verified Signature: “ + isVerified);

} catch (NoSuchAlgorithmException | InvalidKeyException | SignatureException e) {

e.printStackTrace();

}

}

}

Flexible constructor bodies

Java 24 introduces flexible constructor bodies, providing developers with increased flexibility in defining constructors. This feature enhances control over object initialisation, thereby improving the readability and maintainability of code. It is part of the comprehensive enhancements in Java 24 designed to enhance the robustness of the language and improve its accessibility.

The advantages of utilising flexible constructor bodies encompass enhanced readability, secure initialisation, and adaptable validation. It is crucial to acknowledge that instance members (using this) or instance methods cannot be accessed prior to invoking super() or this().

class Parentclass {

int value;

Parentclass (int value) {

this.value = value;

}

}

class Childclass extends Parentclass {

int data;

// Flexible constructor body

Childclass(int value) {

// Initialize fields and validation before calling super()

if (value <= 0) {

throw new IllegalArgumentException(“Value must be positive”);

}

this.data = value * 2;

// Explicit constructor invocation

super(value);

// Additional statements after super() are allowed

System.out.println(“Value: “ + value + “, Data Value: “ + data);

}

Childclass() {

this(10);

System.out.println(“Secondary constructor called”);

}

public static void main(String[] args) {

Childclass obj1 = new Childclass(5); // Output: data : 5, Value: 10

System.out.println(“data: “ + obj1.data + “, value: “ + obj1.value);

Childclass obj2 = new Childclass();

}

The Childclass constructor checks the value before calling the Parentclass constructor with super(value). This validates the data and ensures the object is correctly initialised before the superclass constructor runs.

JavaMoney API

The JavaMoney API in Java 24 provides a comprehensive framework for handling currencies and monetary amounts. This API simplifies the development of financial applications.

import javax.money.Monetary;
import javax.money.MonetaryAmount;
public class JavaMoneyExample {
public static void main(String[] args) {
MonetaryAmount amount = Monetary.getDefaultAmountFactory().setCurrency(“USD”).setNumber(100).create();
System.out.println(“Monetary Amount: “ + amount);
}
}

Java 24 also introduces several other features, such as enhanced pattern matching, new concurrency utilities, and improvements to the Java standard libraries. These additions make Java 24 a comprehensive and robust platform for modern application development.

One of the standout features of Java 24 is its continued emphasis on performance optimisation. The introduction of new garbage collection algorithms and improvements in the JVM’s execution engine will enhance application performance, particularly for large-scale, high-throughput systems.

Security remains a paramount concern in modern technology, and Java 24 addresses this with robust security enhancements. The latest version includes updates to cryptographic libraries, better support for secure coding practices, and more stringent access controls, ensuring that Java applications can withstand emerging security threats.

Additionally, Java 24 aims to streamline the development experience through tooling improvements and better integration with modern development environments. Enhanced support for containerization and cloud-native development positions Java as a viable option for building scalable, distributed systems that leverage cloud infrastructures.

Furthermore, Java 24’s commitment to backward compatibility ensures that existing Java applications can seamlessly transition to the new version without extensive refactoring. This stability allows organisations to adopt the latest advancements without disrupting their current workflows.

Java’s enduring relevance in modern technology is a testament to its foundational strengths and continuous evolution. Java 24, with its focus on performance, security, and developer experience, is well-equipped to compete with other programming languages in developing new age solutions. As the technology landscape continues to advance, Java’s adaptability and robust ecosystem will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping the future of software development.