Java 9, 10 and forward on App Engine Standard

[Leejjon]

Since Java 9, Oracle will release new Java versions every half year.

I don't want to sound impatient, but supporting Java 8 took a long time. Since Java 9 containing stuff like Jigsaw it looks to me that it would be quite some work to support it (but good because it might make it easier to reduce the size of the Java App Engine Standard runtime).

What is the plan for App Engine? Support every new version after it comes out? Or only target the LTS versions like Java 11 is going to be.

I was also wondering how it is going to work on app engine flexible. You can run it with your own java installation, but is that going to be expensive considering the new license model:

https://www.aspera.com/en/blog/oracle-will-charge-for-java-starting-in-2019/

Would be great if the answer was "We are going to support every version, and since it's the OpenJDK you don't have to pay anything...."

Any indication of the future of App Engine Java Standard?

[Nicola Spreafico]

+1

[Jordan (Cloud Platform Support)]

For clarification, the article you are referencing pertains to future Java 8 updates and support requiring an Oracle Java SE Advanced Desktop or Oracle Java SE Suite subscription starting in 2019. Therefore yes Java will continue to be free on App Engine Standard, but supported versions of Java on App Engine Standard will most likely be the LTS versions like Java 11 as you mentioned. 

As seen with the new Google Cloud Services Platform, Google is focusing on supporting a hybrid cloud based on Kubernetes. This approach makes use of custom container images which provides the freedom to run your application in any runtime desired (allowing you to update to the latest version of Java and not be stuck with only Java 8 for example). This is similar to the already available App Engine Flexible custom runtimes where you can already deploy on the latest Java versions. 

[Matt Byrne]

Thanks for the update, Jordan. I guess the next question is: Is Google actively working on preparing AppEngine for Java 11 and what are rough timelines we could expect for that (assuming sept/oct release happens this year). It's great to have the flexibility to use containers and appengine flex, but nothing is quite like AppEngine standard ;-)

[David (Google Cloud Support)]

Hello,

In the link below, you can find the feature request for Java 11 LTS support. Any updates about timelines or any type of information concerning the support of Java 11 on Google App Engine Standard will be posted there.

Java LTS support

[Leejjon]

Thank you.