Guest: Simon Ritter (LinkedIn)
Company: Azul 
Show: Java Reloaded
Topic: Cloud Native

Java’s 30-year journey has been marked by constant innovation, but JDK 25 stands out as a turning point. This release brings tangible gains in performance, developer experience, and security—positioning Java as a powerful foundation for AI-driven and cloud-native applications.

In this episode of Java Reloaded, Swapnil Bhartiya speaks with Simon Ritter, Deputy CTO at Azul, about the new capabilities introduced in JDK 25 and what they mean for developers and enterprises. The conversation spans performance optimization, AI integration, developer productivity, observability, and post-quantum cryptography—all central to keeping Java relevant in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.

Ritter starts by breaking down two key performance enhancements: compact object headers and ahead-of-time (AOT) optimizations. Compact object headers significantly reduce memory usage, with benchmarks showing up to 22% less heap consumption and 8% lower CPU utilization. AOT optimizations, meanwhile, enable faster startup by capturing application state at peak performance and reusing it—an especially valuable improvement for microservices environments.

He also highlights Project Amber’s continued evolution, bringing incremental improvements like pattern matching to simplify and modernize the language. Combined with Project Panama, which bridges Java with native libraries written in C, C++, and even Python, these updates make Java a more flexible language for AI and data-intensive workloads. Ritter points out that while Python dominates model development, Java’s strength lies in scaling and integrating AI into enterprise systems—a critical distinction for real-world deployments.

The discussion moves to Java’s accessibility for new developers. Simplified source files and implicit classes make the “Hello World” experience easier, but Ritter notes that long-term appeal comes from deeper language enhancements and powerful libraries that improve day-to-day developer productivity.

Security is another major theme. JDK 25 introduces post-quantum cryptography building blocks such as the Key Derivation Function API. Ritter emphasizes the growing urgency of preparing for a quantum-computing future, where traditional encryption could become vulnerable. He also touches on the constant tug-of-war between attackers and defenders in software security and how Azul contributes to strengthening OpenJDK’s resilience.

Observability enhancements in JFR (Java Flight Recorder) further empower developers and operators to understand performance bottlenecks without overwhelming systems with instrumentation overhead. Ritter explains how improved sampling and profiling options now allow teams to focus on specific methods or areas, providing actionable insights without distorting application behavior.

The interview concludes with a look ahead at Project Valhalla, which introduces value types that “code like objects but perform like primitives.” This project, years in the making, promises significant performance boosts while preserving Java’s object-oriented design principles. Ritter describes it as one of the most exciting advances on the Java roadmap, signaling yet another leap forward for the platform.

Here is the edited Q&A of the interview:

Swapnil Bhartiya: Java, as we all know, has powered enterprise software for over two decades, but with JDK 25 we are seeing one of the most significant leaps in recent years. This release brings major advances in performance, AI readiness, developer experience, and even quantum-safe security. So what do these changes mean for Java developers and enterprises today?

Simon Ritter: The compact object headers and ahead-of-time optimizations tackle different sides of the performance problem. Compact object headers reduce memory footprint—one benchmark showed 22% less heap space and 8% lower CPU utilization. Ahead-of-time helps applications start faster by snapshotting the system when it reaches optimal performance and reusing that state. This is crucial for microservices that need fast restarts and consistent throughput.

Swapnil Bhartiya: Beyond performance, what features excite you most in this release?

Simon Ritter: Project Amber continues to deliver gradual language improvements. Pattern matching has evolved steadily, making code simpler and safer. These incremental changes keep Java modern and enjoyable for developers.

Swapnil Bhartiya: With Project Panama and the Vector API evolving, Java seems to be moving closer to AI and data workloads. How competitive is Java in the AI ecosystem today?

Simon Ritter: Many assume AI equals Python, but Java has huge potential in enterprise AI integration. Project Panama allows Java to easily call native libraries in C or Python, enabling interoperability. AI’s real business value appears when integrated into enterprise systems—something Java excels at thanks to its scalability and RESTful architecture.

Swapnil Bhartiya: New features like compact source files simplify Java for newcomers. Are these enough to attract new developers?

Simon Ritter: Simplifying “Hello World” helps beginners, but long-term appeal depends on deeper productivity features—like Project Amber and robust libraries. The fundamentals of object-oriented design still matter most once developers move beyond basics.

Swapnil Bhartiya: JDK 25 also focuses on security with post-quantum cryptography. What’s Azul’s perspective on that?

Simon Ritter: Security must always be a top priority. Post-quantum cryptography anticipates future threats from quantum computing. Azul is deeply involved in ensuring OpenJDK remains secure and future-proof. It’s an ongoing battle between attackers and defenders.

Swapnil Bhartiya: Observability enhancements in JFR stand out as well. How do they help cloud-native developers?

Simon Ritter: Observability is key to optimizing cloud costs and performance. JFR’s new features allow more granular profiling without overloading systems. Tools like Mission Control and Azul’s ZVision visualize these insights, making it easier to identify inefficiencies.

Swapnil Bhartiya: Many enterprises still run older LTS versions. What should they consider before moving to JDK 25?

Simon Ritter: Upgrading always requires testing—especially for mission-critical apps. Many stay on older versions because “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” But for new projects, moving to the latest LTS brings major benefits, especially performance and security.

Swapnil Bhartiya: Finally, what’s next for Java?

Simon Ritter: Project Valhalla excites me most. Value types let developers “code like objects, perform like primitives.” It’s a major architectural leap and could redefine Java’s performance model.