Java continues to be a powerhouse in the world of programming languages, consistently evolving with new features and enhancements. With the release of Java 24, developers are presented with yet another robust set of tools designed to optimize performance, simplify syntax, and introduce modern programming paradigms. This article takes a deep dive into everything new and deprecated in Java 24. Whether you are a seasoned developer or just starting your Java journey, understanding these changes is essential for staying ahead in the development landscape.
Table of Contents
- Introduction to Java 24
- Why Java Still Matters in 2025
- Key New Features in Java 24
- Preview Features
- Language Enhancements
- JVM and Performance Improvements
- New APIs and Libraries
- Deprecated Features in Java 24
- Impact of These Changes on Real-World Development
- How to Prepare Your Projects for Java 24
- Final Thoughts
1. Introduction to Java 24
Java 24, released under the six-month release cadence, brings both evolutionary and revolutionary updates. As part of Oracle’s commitment to modern software practices, each release incrementally builds upon the last while maintaining backward compatibility and providing clear paths for migration.
2. Why Java Still Matters in 2025
Despite the rise of newer languages like Kotlin, Rust, and Go, Java remains one of the most reliable, scalable, and enterprise-ready languages in the industry. With over 9 million developers and countless mission-critical applications relying on Java, each update is more than just incremental progress—it’s a cornerstone of global software infrastructure.
Java 24 reaffirms Java’s relevance by focusing on:
- Developer productivity
- Language simplicity
- Performance optimizations
- Future-proofing Java for cloud-native and AI-driven architectures
3. Key New Features in Java 24
Preview Features
Java 24 includes several preview features, allowing developers to experiment with them before they become permanent.
a. Scoped Values (Preview)
Scoped values are an alternative to thread-local variables designed for structured concurrency. They allow values to be shared safely and efficiently across threads within a task scope.
Use Case: In server applications where task-specific context needs to be passed to various threads handling that task.
b. String Templates (Second Preview)
String Templates enhance Java’s string interpolation capabilities, making it easier to create structured strings like JSON or SQL queries.
String name = "Geeks";
String message = STR."Hello, \{name}!";
This removes the need for cumbersome concatenation or String.format() usage.
c. Unnamed Variables and Patterns (Second Preview)
Java 24 extends support for unnamed variables (_) and patterns, which improves code readability and clarity, especially in switch expressions and enhanced for loops.
Language Enhancements
a. Primitive Types in Collections
Thanks to Project Valhalla, Java 24 enhances the Collections Framework to better support primitive data types, reducing boxing overhead and improving performance.
List<int> numbers = IntList.of(1, 2, 3); // Hypothetical syntax
b. Record Patterns
Record patterns in deconstruction have been refined. These patterns make working with record types in switch expressions and pattern matching more expressive.
if (obj instanceof Point(int x, int y)) {
System.out.println(x + "," + y);
}
JVM and Performance Improvements
a. ZGC Enhancements
The Z Garbage Collector continues to mature with reduced pause times and improved memory throughput.
b. Start-Up Optimizations
Java 24 reduces startup times for smaller applications through enhancements in class-data sharing and lazy class loading.
c. Class-File API Updates
Support for reading and writing Java class files has improved, making Java 24 better suited for tooling and compiler developers.
New APIs and Libraries
a. Foreign Function & Memory API (Third Preview)
Continues to evolve, allowing Java programs to safely and efficiently interact with native code and memory outside the Java heap.
b. Structured Concurrency (Incubator)
Aimed at simplifying multithreading by treating multiple tasks running in parallel as a single unit of work.
c. Enhanced Random Number Generators
New interfaces and algorithms have been added to the java.util.random package, allowing more flexible and faster RNG implementations.
RandomGenerator gen = RandomGenerator.of("L128X256MixRandom");
4. Deprecated Features in Java 24
Java 24 also moves forward with deprecating outdated APIs and patterns to encourage modern practices.
a. Finalization
Java continues its multi-release plan to deprecate and eventually remove finalization. Finalizers are unpredictable and often cause performance issues.
b. SecurityManager
Marked for removal. Developers are encouraged to use modern security practices and libraries instead.
c. Older Serialization APIs
Java is nudging developers towards safer and more modern data serialization frameworks like JSON-B, ProtoBuf, and Avro.
d. Deprecated JVM Flags
Certain JVM flags related to outdated GC and performance tuning options are now obsolete and produce warnings or errors.
5. Impact of These Changes on Real-World Development
Boost in Developer Productivity
With features like string templates, unnamed variables, and scoped values, developers can write cleaner, more expressive, and error-free code.
Performance Gains
Optimizations in ZGC, class-loading, and native memory access lead to faster applications with lower memory footprints—especially useful in cloud-native environments.
Enhanced Maintainability
Modern constructs like record patterns and structured concurrency make code easier to understand, test, and maintain.
Reduced Legacy Burden
By phasing out finalization and the SecurityManager, Java is steering development away from fragile, legacy-era patterns.
6. How to Prepare Your Projects for Java 24
Here are some action steps developers and teams can take to ensure a smooth migration:
- Audit your codebase for deprecated features and plan for refactoring.
- Enable preview features with
--enable-previewflag during development and testing. - Update build tools like Maven, Gradle, and IDEs to support Java 24.
- Use jdeps and jlink to analyze module dependencies and minimize runtime footprint.
- Test thoroughly, especially if your app interacts with native code or depends on finalized objects.
- Stay informed by following the OpenJDK Java 24 JEP Index and relevant blogs.
7. Final Thoughts
Java 24 is not just another release—it’s a testament to how a mature language can still evolve, surprise, and stay competitive. It introduces significant quality-of-life improvements, removes long-standing tech debt, and provides a clearer path for future innovation.
As a developer, staying current with these changes is not optional—it’s essential. Those who embrace Java 24 early will benefit from better productivity, modern idioms, and high-performance gains. Don’t let your codebase fall behind. Take advantage of Java 24’s feature set today and future-proof your applications for the next decade.
The future of Java is not just bright—it’s blazing. With Java 24, the language is leaner, faster, and more powerful than ever.
Stay tuned to blogtpoint.com for more in-depth tutorials, migration guides, and real-world use cases for Java 24 and beyond.
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