Best Java Development Kit (JDK) Distributions
Java development kit (JDK) distributions, or Java runtime environment (JRE) distributions provide the necessary resources and processes to run Java applications atop an underlying operating system. These elements include all required Java SE (Standard Edition) classes and code execution environments. JDK / JRE distributions also include a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) which enables Java's cross-platform portability and allows Java’s compiled code to be smaller in size. Java is a popular programming language, and the JDK / JRE can be thought of as a communication layer between written Java programs and operating systems. All distributions of the JDK derive from OpenJDK, the open-source implementation of Java SE which is collectively developed and maintained by the major vendors in this space.
Development teams use their chosen distribution of the JDK to gain access to classes (prewritten code with functionality that can be called via shorthand commands), to write Java code and develop applications, to verify and validate their written code including error and security remediation, and to run their code as an application. For JDK or JRE distributions to be considered compatible with Java SE, it must pass the technology compatibility kit (TCK) test suite. The Java TCK, also referred to as the JCK, is made available through the OpenJDK Community TCK License Agreement (OCTLA) to organizations who are working in and contributing to the OpenJDK Community. Additionally, some distributions (often referred to as “downstream" distributions) provide highly differentiated benefits such as significantly improved application experiences and reduced infrastructure costs. These can include enhanced performance (better garbage collection, faster warm-up, etc.) and cloud native capabilities.
To qualify for inclusion in the Java Development Kit (JDK) Distributions category, a product must:
Best Java Development Kit (JDK) Distributions At A Glance
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Amazon Corretto is a no-cost, multi-platform, production-ready distribution of the Open Java Development Kit (OpenJDK). It offers long-term support with regular performance enhancements and security f
Amazon Corretto is a distribution of OpenJDK that includes performance enhancements and security updates, and offers long-term support for Java applications. Users like that Amazon Corretto is free, well-supported, secure, and integrates smoothly with AWS workloads, providing regular updates and cross-platform compatibility, making it a reliable choice for production use. Users experienced issues with the documentation being minimal and updates sometimes lagging behind the latest OpenJDK features, and the product requires the Amazon package to work, limiting its use without Amazon's cloud.
2,220,322 Twitter followers
Oracle Java Downloads provides developers and enterprises with access to the latest Java Development Kit (JDK) releases, including both Long-Term Support (LTS) and non-LTS versions. These downloads ar
825,410 Twitter followers
Liberica JDK is a Java runtime for modern Java deployments. It is run on any platform, and in any environment allowing a secure, reliable, and cost-effective approach to application development.
4,056 Twitter followers
Azul Platform Core is designed for the enterprise, with the certified builds, tight security, and cost efficiencies you need to run today’s business–critical, Java-based services. More Trust Built b
4,166 Twitter followers
SapMachine is a free, cross-platform, and production-ready distribution of the OpenJDK, maintained by SAP. It serves as the default Java Runtime for SAP's applications and services, ensuring compatibi
297,192 Twitter followers
The Microsoft Build of OpenJDK is a free, open-source distribution of the Open Java Development Kit provided by Microsoft. It offers Long-Term Support binaries for Java versions 11, 17, and 21, compat
13,090,136 Twitter followers
A truly superior Java platform that can cut your infrastructure costs in half. Azul Platform Prime turbocharges the performance and scalability of your Java ecosystem with a hyper-optimized runtime th
4,166 Twitter followers
Eclipse Temurin is an open-source Java SE runtime that provides high-performance, cross-platform binaries suitable for enterprise applications. Built upon the OpenJDK, Temurin is Java SE TCK certified
Alibaba Dragonwell is Alibaba's in-house implementation of OpenJDK, tailored to optimize Java applications across extensive server infrastructures. Designed for large-scale e-commerce, financial, and
GraalVM is a high-performance runtime, that provides significant improvements in application performance and efficiency. It accelerates application performance while consuming fewer resources; provid
825,410 Twitter followers
IBM Semeru Runtimes are no-cost, high-performance Java runtime environments designed to develop and run Java applications efficiently across diverse platforms, including on-premises, public cloud, and
708,652 Twitter followers
413,370 Twitter followers
Java runtime for your embedded systems Full functionality of Java™ and enhanced ARM performance and security. Embedded devices are often built to fulfill a single purpose and with the lower c
4,056 Twitter followers
Mandrel: A Specialized Distribution of GraalVM for Quarkus Mandrel is a tailored distribution of GraalVM, specifically optimized for Quarkus applications. It focuses on the `native-image` component,
20,573 Twitter followers
OpenLogic OpenJDK Builds provide free, enterprise-grade distributions of OpenJDK, offering a reliable and secure alternative to proprietary Java platforms. These builds are fully compliant with Java S
5,090 Twitter followers
