Microsoft has begun distributing its own Java distribution based on the OpenJDK. The product is distributed free of charge and is available in source code under the GPLv2 license. The distribution includes binaries for Java 11 and Java 16 based on OpenJDK 11.0.11 and OpenJDK 16.0.1. Builds are prepared for Linux, Windows and macOS and are available for the x86_64 architecture. Additionally, a test build based on OpenJDK 16.0.1 for ARM systems has been generated, which is available for Linux and Windows.
As a reminder, in 2019 Oracle moved its Java SE binary distributions to a new license agreement that restricts commercial use and allows free use only during software development or for personal use, testing, prototyping, and demonstrating applications. For free commercial use, it is proposed to use the free OpenJDK, licensed under GPLv2 with GNU ClassPath exceptions to allow dynamic linking to commercial products. The OpenJDK 11 branch that is used in the Microsoft distribution is categorized as an LTS release, updates for which will be generated until October 2024. OpenJDK 11 is maintained by Red Hat.
It is noted that the OpenJDK distribution kit published by Microsoft is the company's contribution to the Java ecosystem and an attempt to strengthen interaction with the community. The distribution is positioned as stable and already used in many Microsoft services and products, including Azure, Minecraft, SQL Server, Visual Studio Code and LinkedIn. The distribution will be provided with a long maintenance cycle with quarterly publication of free updates. The composition will also include fixes and improvements that, for one reason or another, are not accepted into the main composition of the OpenJDK, but are recognized as important for Microsoft customers and projects. These additional changes will be explicitly noted in the release notes and published as source in the project repository.
Microsoft also announced that it has joined the Eclipse Adoptium Working Group, which is seen as a vendor-neutral platform for distributing OpenJDK binary builds that are fully compliant with the Java specifications, meet AQAvit's quality criteria, and are ready for use in production projects. Assemblies distributed through Adoptium are validated against the Java SE TCK for full specification compliance (an agreement between Oracle and the Eclipse Foundation is used to access the Technology Compatibility Kit).
Currently, OpenJDK 8, 11 and 16 builds from the Eclipse Temurin project (the former Java distribution of AdoptOpenJDK) are distributed directly through Adoptium. The Adoptium project also includes IBM-generated JDK builds based on the Java OpenJ9 virtual machine, but these builds are distributed separately through the IBM website.
Additionally, Amazon's Corretto project, which distributes free long-term support distributions of Java 8, 11, and 16, is ready for use in enterprises. The product has been validated against Amazon's internal infrastructure and certified to Java SE specifications. The Russian company BellSoft, founded by former employees of the St. Petersburg branch of Oracle and occupying 6th and 8th places in the ratings of the most active participants in the development of JDK 11 and JDK 16, distributes the Liberica JDK distribution kit, which passes tests for compatibility with the Java SE standard and is available for free use.
Source: opennet.ru