Lets Adopt Open JDK

Java 11 has been released. It is a major release because it has long-term support (LTS). 

For 23 years, developers have downloaded the JDK from Oracle 

Oracle JDK, the one all web searches take us to, is now commercial not $free.

The key part of the terms is as follows:

You may not: use the Programs for any data processing or any commercial, production, or internal business purposes other than developing, testing, prototyping, and demonstrating your Application;

The trap is as follows:

1. Download Oracle JDK (because that is what you've always done, and it is what the web-search tells you)
2. Use it in production (because you didn't realise the license changed)
3. Get a nasty phone call from Oracle's license enforcement teams demanding lots of money

$free alternative...

The solution is simple!

Use an OpenJDK build.

As well as their commercial JDK, Oracle produce an OpenJDK build. It is $free, zero-cost and GPL licensed (with Classpath exception so safe for commercial use). Download $free Java here.

Right now, the OpenJDK build from Oracle is the only one available. But more will be available soon, such as from AdoptOpenJDK (probably later this week). And the OpenJDK builds from groups other than Oracle will be the ones to use for Java 11 long-term support.

See my posts on zero-cost Java and the wide variety of OpenJDK buildsfor more details.

How to Download Open Jdk 11

For Java 11, download and use an OpenJDK build, currently from here.