Navigating recent Oracle Java pricing and licensing changes
With 98% of businesses using Java in their apps or infrastructure, many are left asking what to do now Oracle have changed how it's licensed.
Published on 8th January 2024
Businesses today run on Java. Nearly 30 years after its introduction, Java remains the programming language of choice for large-scale enterprise applications in the cloud, on-prem or hybrid thanks to its unmatched versatility, reliability, stability and the vast amount of available open-source and third-party libraries and frameworks that make developing Java applications highly efficient.
A recent report and survey found that 98% of businesses use Java in their software applications or infrastructure, and 57% of those organizations indicate that Java is the backbone of most of their applications. Compound this number by Java-based frameworks, libraries and JVM-based languages and it’s clear Java plays an instrumental role in the modern enterprise.
Lately, however, a series of licensing and pricing changes for Oracle Java SE, the popular Java runtime and support subscription, has raised concerns across the global Java community. Under the latest terms, businesses will now be charged based on the number of employees in the company, including contractors and other third parties who support the business operations, rather than how much Java is used. The difference is substantial—most organizations will pay two to five times as much under the new model. More than 8 out of 10 companies currently using Oracle Java said they are concerned about the new pricing. After the fourth major licensing or pricing change in four years, many companies are considering moving to alternative distributions of Java, such as those based on OpenJDK. One of the world’s top research universities made the switch and reported substantial cost savings and greater ease of doing business.
Considering An Alternative For Oracle Java? The Three Phases of Migration
Even with the pricing changes, some companies will choose to stay with Oracle Java. Enterprises have become increasingly reliant on the Java platform in no small part because of its scalability to even the largest internet-scale workloads. Maintaining the highest levels of security and stability is essential for mission-critical applications, and companies need to partner with trusted providers of the support necessary to augment their own teams. They may have a significant investment already in Java SE and know they can look to Oracle for comprehensive software support and consistent updates.
For those who are thinking about alternatives to Oracle Java, it’s pretty straightforward. The reason is that Oracle Java and distributions based on OpenJDK come from the same source code—so they’re functionally the same and just distributed under different licensing terms. From a technical standpoint, migration typically consists of installing a new distribution and configuring your application to use it. However, proper planning and preparation are important, particularly for companies that have been using Java applications for years on the desktop and servers and, as a result, run a variety of JDK versions.
Whatever your migration goals may be, the following three-phase methodology will help ensure a successful migration:
Discovery
Execution
For each machine that requires a Java runtime, install the same version of the OpenJDK distribution that is currently in use, i.e., ensure a “like for like” substitution with the exact same update version. Adjust the environment and configuration so your application uses the OpenJDK distribution.
Validation
Test your applications to verify that everything works as expected. The testing process will vary depending on each application. Typically testing that an application running using an OpenJDK distribution works the same as when using Oracle Java consists of a similar amount of testing as would be required when testing a quarterly upgrade release. Most enterprises already have such quarterly testing processes in place.
Once your migration is complete, you will be in a strong position to maintain your Java estate at the highest levels of security and stability. You will also have a much clearer picture of which Java runtimes are being used by each application and avoid the potential financial liability associated with Oracle’s recent pricing change.
Your Java estate is foundational and should be a strategic focal point for your organization’s long-term success. Java’s robustness, versatility and continued importance in the ever-evolving tech landscape make it a valuable asset for enterprises worldwide. By investing in the right Java solutions, staying up to date with the latest developments and ensuring a well-maintained and secure environment, you can harness the full potential of Java to drive innovation, enhance customer experiences and maintain a competitive edge.
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