The OpenJDK and Java SE release cadence and update plans have gone through radical changes recently. Starting with the release of JDK 9 (aka Java 9), the official new release cadence for Java SE consists of Long Term Support (LTS) releases along with a new class of “feature” releases. General availability of LTS releases is scheduled every 3 years, with additional feature releases every six months. These feature releases enable new capabilities to be added to the Java SE platform in a more rapid manner than the historical multi-year release intervals between for example JDK 6 and 7, and JDK 7 and 8.

The new Java SE release cadence has several challenges for production environments:

The availability of public updates for LTS releases are planned for only 6 months after general availability (GA). LTS updates after the first 6 months are available only through paid commercial support from Oracle.

Beginning with JDK 11, Oracle’s public JDK updates end concurrent with the GA of a new release. For example, Oracle will no longer offer public updates for JDK 8 once JDK 11 is released in September, 2018.