JDK 28 gains ahead-of-time compilation proposal alongside five other features
The upcoming Java Development Kit 28, a non-LTS feature release scheduled for March 2027, now has a proposed sixth feature: ahead-of-time code compilation to speed up application startup and warmup. The five previously targeted features include value objects, generational Shenandoah GC as default, strictly-initialized fields, a simple JSON API, and PEM encodings for cryptographic objects. The AOT proposal aims to let applications reach and sustain peak performance without code changes.
JDK 28 is scheduled for March 2027 as a non-LTS feature release, with JDK 27 having arrived September 15. Both receive only six months of Oracle support, distinguishing them from LTS versions. The AOT compilation proposal would make optimized native code available immediately at JVM startup, targeting faster peak performance without code changes.
Other features include value objects (preview), generational Shenandoah GC as default, strictly-initialized fields (preview), a simple JSON API (incubator), and PEM encodings for cryptographic objects. The macOS/x64 port deprecation reflects Apple's shift to AArch64 architecture.
This release could meaningfully affect Java developers and enterprises relying on Java applications. Faster startup and warmup from AOT compilation may improve cloud deployment efficiency, where rapid scaling matters. Value objects and strict field initialization could reduce bugs in data-heavy systems. However, as a non-LTS release with limited support, adoption may be cautious among organizations prioritizing stability, potentially delaying these benefits until they reach an LTS version.