Java 9 Features

Java 9 is now available and it has many promising features.

Java platform module system

Jshell Command Line Tool

New Java Version String format

Compile for Older Platform Versions

Private methods in Interface

Http API Support

Core Libraries Improvements in JDK 9 

Java platform module system

Java 9 enabled with new way of development based on modules. A module is self-described collection of code and data with unique identification name. It is kind of Dynamic Component development similar to OSGi.

Usually we need other modular framework to enable dynamic component development in java and now Java platform itself support Dynamic Component Development.

To support module development capability they have introduced different tools such as javac, jlink, jmod and java, which helps to develop and run the modules.

Java 9 is introduced new phase link time for modules, which comes between compile and run time. In this phase module assembled and optimized.

Find more details about Jlink Tool from below link

https://docs.oracle.com/javase/9/tools/jlink.htm

 Java 9 come up with new packaging system JMOD for modules, which is similar to JAR in addition to JAR feature JMOD (Java Module) contained native code and configuration files as well.

Find more details about JMOD from the below link

https://docs.oracle.com/javase/9/tools/jmod.htm

Java Platform Module System compliances specified in JSR 376

JDK also divided into set of modules, if the application required specific modules we can defined in the application rather than load all modules in the Java Run Time Image. This feature will make application lightweight and its improved performance of application.

Java 9 Removes rt.jar and tools.jar from the Java runtime image

Jshell Command Line Tool (REPL)

Java 9 provided Jshell Command Line Tool to execute and run the java code in the shell.

Usually this kind of interface available for Python and Scala languages. Now it is available in Java 9. JShell is Read–Eval–Print-Loop – REPL for short. We can write java statements in the shell and evaluate then execute.

Find more details from below link

https://docs.oracle.com/javase/9/tools/jshell.htm

New Java Version String format

New Java Version Sting format makes easy understand when any release is out. It have specific pattern it will explain what kind of release like Major /Minor/Patch/ Security.

The following is release version format

$MAJOR.$MINOR.$SECURITY.$PATCH

Provided more custom selection for installers

For windows have optional selection for web deployment. We can enable or disable web deployment through installers.

Added more Diagnostic Commands

Java 9 have defined additional Diagnostic Commands to improve the ability to diagnose issues with hostspot and JDK. Jcmd is tool, which have set commands to diagnose issues

Find more details about Jcmd from the below link.

https://docs.oracle.com/javase/9/tools/jcmd.htm

Compile for Older Platform Versions

Java 9 improved the javac tool to compile java code in older version java, such way it can run in older version JVM.

Find the more details about javac from the below link

https://docs.oracle.com/javase/9/tools/javac.htm

JVM Command-Line Flag Arguments Validation

Java 9 provides the way to validate JVM command line arguments such a way it will avoid the failures and display error message after execute the commands.

Unified JVM Logging

Unified JVM Logging helps common logging system for all java modules.

-Xloggc java option will enable Unified JVM Logging

Find more about –Xloggc from following link

https://docs.oracle.com/javase/9/tools/java.htm

New HTTP Client

Java 9 now have Http support and its replacement for old HttpURLConnection. It support HTTP/2 protocol and Web Socket handshake. Before we use Apache Http client libraries to work with Http URL handshake. Now this support added in Java 9, now we do not required additional external libraries when work with http handshaking.

Private methods in Interface

Java 9 introduced the Private methods in the interface and it will help us to split lengthy default methods in interfaces.

Core Libraries Improvements in JDK 9 

The following are some of features, which improved in the Java core Libraries.

Process API Updates

Variable Handles

Compact String

Platform Logging API and Service

Convenience Factory Methods for Collections

XML Catalogs

Filter Incoming Serialization Data

The following is place you can find all Java 9 features in detail.

https://docs.oracle.com/javase/9/whatsnew/toc.htm

Author

Meera Prince

Liferay Contributor of the Year 2016
Liferay Top Contributor Award Winner 2015

Liferay Contributor of the Year 2014

Liferay Top Contributor Award Winner 2013

http://www.liferaysavvy.com