I created a GH issue[1] proposing the removal of Java 8 support. It would target the Arrow v15 release (~Jan 2024).
IMO it would be in the best interest of the project for two major reasons: 1. Unblock the Java Platform Module System (JPMS)[2] implementation. 2. Unblock Arrow from upgrading dependencies that no longer support Java 8. (See [1] for examples) Since Arrow Java has been quite stable, will Java 8 users be okay with pinning Arrow to the last supported release (v14) if the Arrow project ultimately decides to remove Java 8 support? [1]https://github.com/apache/arrow/issues/38051 [2]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_Platform_Module_System -Dane On Fri, Sep 15, 2023 at 12:26 PM Dane Pitkin <d...@voltrondata.com> wrote: > - As a low level library, users have to add specific flags to use >> Java 9 and up with Arrow to resolve issues with java.nio. This has >> been annoying for our customers constantly. If this is not resolved, >> I would say we may see a lot of complaints in the future. >> > I filed issue 37739[1] to track this, but it sounds like this can't be > changed until Java 21 or 24. > > - It seems that the EOL of Java 8 from Oracle is Dec 2030 [2]. A lot >> users will still stay on it for a long time. At least this is true for >> our >> customers. So I am afraid we may not upgrade to newer versions >> of Arrow if it no longer supports Java 8. >> > Java 8 does have a long Extended Support timeline, but a recent > report shows Java 11 increasing in adoption vs Java 8. "More than 56% of > applications are now using Java 11 in production (up from 48% in 2022 and > 11% in 2020). Java 8 is a close second with nearly 33% of applications > using it in production (down from 46% in 2022)."[2] > I expect the Java ecosystem will find a way to move on from Java 8 much > sooner than 2030, meaning many of Arrow's dependencies could drop support > for Java 8 before then. At this point, Arrow may be forced to support a > higher minimum Java version. > > That being said, it's hard to argue against real use cases. I'd be curious > to hear what Java version other users of Arrow are using (and if there is a > timeline to upgrade if on Java 8). > > > [1]https://github.com/apache/arrow/issues/37739 > [2] > https://newrelic.com/sites/default/files/2023-04/new-relic-2023-state-of-the-java-ecosystem-2023-04-20.pdf > > > -Dane > > > On Thu, Sep 14, 2023 at 11:45 AM Gang Wu <ust...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> Thanks for bringing this up! >> >> I have two concerns of dropping Java 8 support: >> - As a low level library, users have to add specific flags [1] to use >> Java 9 and up with Arrow to resolve issues with java.nio. This has >> been annoying for our customers constantly. If this is not resolved, >> I would say we may see a lot of complaints in the future. >> - It seems that the EOL of Java 8 from Oracle is Dec 2030 [2]. A lot >> users will still stay on it for a long time. At least this is true for >> our >> customers. So I am afraid we may not upgrade to newer versions >> of Arrow if it no longer supports Java 8. >> >> [1] https://arrow.apache.org/docs/java/install.html#java-compatibility >> [2] https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/java-se-support-roadmap.html >> >> Best, >> Gang >> >> >> >> On Thu, Sep 14, 2023 at 11:14 PM David Dali Susanibar Arce < >> davi.sar...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> > Hi Arrow Java developers, >> > >> > I would like to propose a timeline for dropping support for Java 8: >> > - Propose to drop JDK8 in Arrow v15 (2 releases from now) >> > - JDK 21 support will be added before removal of JDK8 >> > >> > Why? >> > - Java 8 no longer receives Premier Support (1) >> > - Some Arrow Java (test) dependencies have already started to drop >> > Java 8 support, forcing us to pin to older packager versions >> > >> > Also note: >> > - gRPC Java may drop support for a JDK version when that version is no >> > longer receiving Premier Support from Oracle (2), more detail at Java >> > 8 / Java 11 support timeline in gRPC here (3) >> > - Spark plans to tentatively drop JDK 8 support in Spark 4.0 (4), >> > which has a release timeline of approximately 2024-06 (5). Is it fine >> > for us to drop JDK 8 support before spark? >> > >> > (1) >> https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/java-se-support-roadmap.html >> > (2) >> > >> https://github.com/grpc/proposal/pull/283/files#:~:text=gRPC%20Java%20may,support%5D >> > . >> > (3) https://groups.google.com/g/grpc-io/c/-XK6Kd_19YQ/m/-4s07TzdAgAJ >> > (4) https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/SPARK-44112 >> > (5) https://www.mail-archive.com/dev@spark.apache.org/msg30460.html >> > >> > Consider: >> > - JDK8 deprecation is currently not mandatory. We simply want to >> > devote more time to development of Java LTS versions 11, 17 and 21. >> > - Java 11 is dropping Premier Support this month. >> > >> > Best regards, >> > >> > -- >> > David Susanibar >> > >> >
