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Java 17 Features: What’s New and Why It Matters for Developers

An important turning point in the development of the Java programming language was reached with the release of Java 17, which came out in September 2021. Java 17, the most recent Long-Term Support (LTS) version, introduced a number of new features, enhancements, and performance improvements designed to increase productivity and ease the lives of developers. The main new features of Java 17 will be discussed in this blog article, along with their importance and the effects they have on developers.

Why Java 17 Matters

Since Java 17 is a Long-Term Support release, Oracle will continue to offer support and updates for a number of years. Because of this, it is a popular option for businesses wishing to create reliable and secure applications. Java 17 has many features that solve issues for developers and bring in tools that make coding easier, boost performance, and increase security. Making the switch to Java 17 guarantees that your apps will be maintained and future-proof.

Let’s dive into the new features and enhancements that make Java 17 stand out.

New Features in Java 17

1. Sealed Classes

Sealed classes, introduced as a preview feature in Java 15, became a standard feature in Java 17. This feature allows developers to control the inheritance hierarchy by specifying which classes can extend or implement a sealed class.

Syntax:

public sealed class Shape permits Circle, Rectangle {
    // Class body
}
public final class Circle extends Shape {
    // Class body
}
public final class Rectangle extends Shape {
    // Class body
}

Benefits:

  • Helps developers create a more predictable inheritance model.
  • Prevents unintended subclassing and promotes code maintainability.

Sealed classes are especially useful in domain-driven design and scenarios where class hierarchies need strict control.

2. Pattern Matching for Switch (Preview)

Java 17 enhances the switch expression by introducing pattern matching. This allows developers to match patterns directly in a switch statement, simplifying code and making it more readable.

Syntax:

switch (obj) {
    case Integer i -> System.out.println("Integer: " + i);
    case String s -> System.out.println("String: " + s);
    default -> System.out.println("Unknown type");
}

Benefits:

  • Reduces boilerplate code.
  • Improves code clarity and maintainability.
  • Offers a more declarative style of programming.

3. JEP 356: Enhanced Pseudo-Random Number Generators

Java 17 introduces new interfaces and implementations for random number generators, providing developers with more robust and flexible options for generating random numbers.

Key Changes:

  • A new RandomGenerator interface.
  • Support for various algorithms, including LXM, Xoshiro256Plus, and SplittableRandom.

Benefits:

  • Better performance and reliability for random number generation.
  • More control and flexibility for developers in applications requiring random data, such as simulations and gaming.

4. JEP 382: New macOS Rendering Pipeline

For macOS users, Java 17 introduces a new rendering pipeline based on Apple’s Metal API. This replaces the older pipeline based on OpenGL.

Benefits:

  • Improved performance on macOS.
  • Enhanced compatibility with modern macOS versions.
  • Future-proof rendering pipeline aligned with Apple’s direction.

5. JEP 391: macOS/AArch64 Port

Java 17 supports macOS running on Apple Silicon (M1) chips with the macOS/AArch64 port.

Benefits:

  • Native support for Apple Silicon ensures better performance.
  • Enables developers to leverage the full power of the M1 architecture.
  • Streamlined experience for building Java applications on macOS.

6. Removal of RMI Activation

Remote Method Invocation (RMI) Activation, a feature used for activating remote objects, has been removed in Java 17. This aligns with Java’s focus on deprecating outdated and rarely used features.

Benefits:

  • Simplifies the JDK.
  • Encourages developers to use modern alternatives like RESTful APIs and gRPC for distributed systems.

7. Strong Encapsulation of JDK Internals

Java 17 strongly encapsulates JDK internals, disallowing reflective access to non-exported elements. Developers are encouraged to use standard APIs or explicitly export required packages.

Benefits:

  • Enhances security by preventing unintended access to internal APIs.
  • Promotes the use of stable and documented APIs.
  • Helps maintain compatibility in future Java versions.

8. Deprecation and Removal of Deprecated Features

Java 17 continues the trend of removing deprecated features to streamline the platform. Some notable removals include:

  • Deprecated Applet API.
  • Thread.stop() method.
  • Various obsolete garbage collectors.

Benefits:

  • Reduces the size and complexity of the JDK.
  • Encourages developers to adopt modern coding practices.

9. JEP 411: Deprecation for Removal of Finalization

Finalization is a mechanism to clean up resources before an object is garbage-collected. Java 17 begins deprecating finalization for future removal.

Benefits:

  • Encourages the use of alternatives like try-with-resources for better resource management.
  • Improves garbage collection performance by removing finalization overhead.

10. Performance Improvements

Java 17 includes numerous performance optimizations, particularly in garbage collection, JVM startup time, and application throughput. Key garbage collectors, such as G1 and ZGC, have been further refined.

Benefits:

  • Faster application startup.
  • Lower latency and higher throughput for high-performance applications.

Migration to Java 17

Why Migrate?

Migrating to Java 17 ensures access to the latest language features, security updates, and long-term support. Organizations can reduce technical debt and enhance application performance.

Migration Tips:

  1. Analyze Dependencies: Ensure all libraries and frameworks are compatible with Java 17.
  2. Test Thoroughly: Run comprehensive tests to identify and fix compatibility issues.
  3. Refactor Code: Update deprecated APIs and adopt new features to leverage Java 17’s capabilities.
  4. Monitor Performance: Use profiling tools to measure and optimize application performance after migration.

Real-World Applications of Java 17

1. Enterprise Applications

Sealed classes and enhanced switch statements improve code maintainability and readability, making them ideal for complex enterprise applications.

2. Big Data and AI

The new random number generators and performance improvements benefit data-intensive applications, including big data processing and AI/ML workflows.

3. Cross-Platform Development

With support for macOS/AArch64, Java 17 is an excellent choice for developing applications that run seamlessly on Apple Silicon devices.

4. Game Development

Enhanced random number generation and performance optimizations make Java 17 suitable for game development, where precision and speed are critical.

Deep Dive: How Java 17 Simplifies Development

Unified Logging Improvements

One underappreciated aspect of Java 17 is its improvement in unified logging capabilities. Developers can now better monitor, debug, and manage Java applications in production environments by utilizing advanced logging APIs. The structured logging mechanism also helps in identifying performance bottlenecks more effectively.

Context-Sensitive Deserialization Filters

With the rise in serialization-based vulnerabilities, Java 17 introduces enhancements for context-sensitive deserialization filters. These filters allow developers to specify rules for deserializing objects based on their runtime context, thereby reducing the risk of malicious exploits.

Example:

ObjectInputFilter filter = ObjectInputFilter.Config.createFilter("java.base/*;!*" );
ObjectInputStream ois = new ObjectInputStream(inputStream);
ois.setObjectInputFilter(filter);

This feature is particularly valuable for enterprise applications handling sensitive data exchanges.

Advanced Garbage Collection: A Case Study

While garbage collection improvements are often abstract, Java 17’s refinements in the G1 and ZGC collectors have tangible benefits for resource-intensive applications. Consider a real-time trading application where latency is critical. By fine-tuning ZGC configurations in Java 17, the application can achieve lower pause times and better throughput, making it more reliable under peak loads.

Extended Examples and Use Cases

Sealed Classes in API Design

Sealed classes are a game-changer for designing APIs where extensibility is required but should be controlled. For example, consider a payment processing system:

public sealed class Payment permits CreditCardPayment, PayPalPayment {
    abstract void processPayment();
}
public final class CreditCardPayment extends Payment {
    void processPayment() {
        System.out.println("Processing credit card payment");
    }
}
public final class PayPalPayment extends Payment {
    void processPayment() {
        System.out.println("Processing PayPal payment");
    }
}

Using sealed classes ensures only approved payment methods can be added, avoiding unauthorized extensions.

Pattern Matching for Data Transformation

Pattern matching simplifies data transformations in Java applications, particularly for handling diverse input types. For example:

public static void transform(Object input) {
    switch (input) {
        case Integer i -> System.out.println("Doubled: " + (i * 2));
        case String s -> System.out.println("Uppercase: " + s.toUpperCase());
        default -> System.out.println("Unsupported type");
    }
}

This approach eliminates the need for verbose instanceof checks and casts, making code concise and maintainable.

Beyond the Basics: How Java 17 Sets the Stage for the Future

Support for Emerging Architectures

Java 17 establishes itself as a platform-ready language for new computer architectures with native support for macOS/AArch64 and ongoing x86 system optimizations. This guarantees that programmers can install Java apps on state-of-the-art hardware without worrying about compatibility issues.

Enhanced Developer Productivity

Java 17’s streamlined APIs and reduced boilerplate code foster developer productivity. Teams can focus on implementing business logic rather than navigating complex syntax or dealing with compatibility issues.

Community and Ecosystem Growth

As an LTS release, Java 17 is set to enjoy long-term adoption, spurring growth in its ecosystem. Tools, frameworks, and libraries will increasingly align with Java 17, creating a vibrant and supportive environment for developers.

Conclusion

With a plethora of new features, speed improvements, and long-term support, Java 17 is a major advancement for developers. With features like pattern matching, sealed classes, and enhanced random number generators, Java 17 improves the efficiency of coding and the resilience of programs.


Developers and organizations can take advantage of contemporary programming paradigms, future-proof their programs, and guarantee security and maintainability by implementing Java 17. Java 17 offers the capabilities and tools you need to realize your ideas, whether you’re developing enterprise-level software, dabbling with artificial intelligence, or making games.

Upgrade to Java 17 today and experience the next generation of Java development!

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