Oracle New JDK Release Model Impacts on Progress OpenEdge Application Developers and Users

Introduction
 
As has been widely covered in the press, Oracle is moving to monetize Java. At a summary level: 

• Java 8 is a long-term supported (LTS) release. If it is used in production, there is no licensing fee. However, if the user would like to stay current on bug fixes and security patches from Oracle, effective January 1, 2019, they must be licensed. The Java Platform, Standard Edition (Java SE) is offered from Oracle as a Subscription.
• Java 9 and Java 10 are NOT LTS releases. Given the short (6 month) duration of support, most Java users (at least OpenEdge Java users) will likely not put these into a production environment. 
• Java 11 is a LTS release. If it is used in production, specifically the Java Runtime Environment (JRE), then it must be licensed from Oracle. Java SE, which includes the JRE, is offered from Oracle as a Subscription. 
• Development organizations like Progress and our ISVs can continue to distribute Java 8 (or earlier) installation kits, up to the release available as of the end of 2018. They do not have the right to redistribute Java 11 or later. The implication is that obtaining the Java Developers Kit (JDK) or the JRE will become a prerequisite for installation of OpenEdge and associated business applications starting with Java 11.

• OpenJDK is a no-cost open source alternative to Oracle JDK SE. Oracle has committed to make OpenJDK equivalent to Oracle Java SE starting with Java 11.

The Java Developers Kit (JDK) and Java Runtime Environment (JRE)
 
The JDK is used with the development of Java code, and it contains the JRE along with other tools. The JRE, as the name implies, is the runtime engine to execute Java code. Oracle provides the Java Standard Edition, referred to as “Java SE”, which includes:

• The JDK, plus the JavaFX (Swing replacement) Software Development Kit (SDK)
• The JRE
• JavaFX Runtime (now Open Source and will not be part of Java SE 11)
• JRockit JDK

Where the JDK is Used by OpenEdge Application Developers
 
While much of business application coding is done using the Advanced Business Language (ABL), testing does require the JRE. In addition, the JDK may be required when the following OpenEdge components are used: 

• Java OpenClient
• ProxyGen
• PAS for OpenEdge 

OpenEdge Status

The OpenEdge team has been working with counterparts in other product lines at Progress to understand the Oracle changes, assess their impact, and strategize options. 

The current status: 

• OpenEdge 11.7, 12.0 and 12.1 make use of Java SE 8. As of January 1, 2019, users of these OpenEdge versions who would like to obtain Java bug fixes and security patches can contract with Oracle. 
• As of OpenEdge 12.1 we certified the use of OpenJDK so that OpenEdge customers have the choice of contracting with Oracle or making use of OpenJDK at no additional cost. 
• As of OpenEdge 12.1 JDK is no longer included with OpenEdge and instead has become an installation time prerequisite.

Table 1: Summary of OpenEdge Active/Mature Releases and Associated Java Versions
OpenEdge Version	JDK Version	Oracle JDK Released Before 1/1/2019	Oracle JDK Released On/After 1/1/2019	OpenJDK Support
10.2B	5	Free to use	Contract with Oracle	No
11.6	7	Free to use	Contract with Oracle	No
11.7	8	Free to use	Contract with Oracle	11.7.4 and later
12.0	8	Free to use	Contract with Oracle	No
12.1	8	Contract with Oracle	Contract with Oracle	Yes

Recommendations
 
As a user of an OpenEdge application, you will need to decide what Java support option is best for you: 

• If you prefer paid-for support for Java SE, then you have the option of contracting with Oracle for their Java SE subscription to obtain bug fixes and security updates (issued on or after January 1, 2019) to Java 8 or earlier. Alternatively OpenEdge 11.7.4 (and later) and 12.1, are certified with OpenJDK 8 as a free of charge option. 

As an ISV producing OpenEdge applications for resale: 

• If you prefer paid-for support for Java, then you have the option of contracting with Oracle to obtain bug fixes and security updates (issued on or after January 1, 2019) to Java 8 or earlier, for development purposes. You can continue to ship the Java 8 JDK, up to the last commercially available (no cost) version at the end of 2018, with your application installation kit if you so choose. 
• If you prefer to receive your JDK releases, bug fixes and security updates at no additional cost but also with no support, you may use an OpenJDK. 
• The end users of your application will be responsible for obtaining a contract with Oracle for support and use of Java SE (and in particular the JRE), or they can opt for using no-cost OpenJDK.

The below chart depicts the currently supported JDK packages

Vendor	Java Runtime	Minimum Version	Short name
AdoptOpenJDK	OpenJDK (Hotspot)	8u222-b10	OpenJDK 8
Oracle	Java SE Development Kit	8u221	Java SE 8
IBM	SDK, Java Technology Edition	8.0.5.20	Java SDK 8

*Note Java 8 is sometimes referred to as Java 1.8
 

References to Other Documentation:

Video Demo of Installing OpenEdge 12.1 with user supplied JDK and Upgrading JDK
https://community.progress.com/community_groups/openedge_deployment/f/21/t/59794  

What's New in OpenEdge 12, What's New in OpenEdge 12.2, Java support 
https://docs.progress.com/bundle/openedge-whats-new/page/Java-support.html  

OpenEdge Frequently Asked Questions, Java 11 support for OpenEdge FAQ
https://docs.progress.com/bundle/openedge-frequently-asked-questions/page/Java-11-support-for-OpenEdge-FAQ.html  

Review the OpenEdge Product Availability Guide for your release for a complete list of supported third party products at all times:
000021678, Where is the OpenEdge Product Availability and Life Cycle Guide?

Progress Articles:

000093456, Oracle New JDK Release Model Impacts on Progress OpenEdge Application Developers and Users  
000098237, Error JAVA_HOME environment variable may not be set correctly   
000098629, Unable to set the Java installation path with the 12.1 Client Networking MSI installer  

Where Can I Get More Information about Oracle JDKs?
 
One place to start is the Oracle web site. There is an informative blog titled “A Quick Summary on the new Java SE Subscription” that may be helpful, and that blog provides links to a Java SE Subscription FAQ and Data Sheet, plus a link to the Subscription web page.
 
To contact Oracle Sales, visit https://www.oracle.com/corporate/contact/global.html.