Java, both as a programming language and a platform, continues to be a powerful technology in enterprise environments worldwide. But according to a recent survey by Azul, 86% of respondents who use Oracle Java SE are currently moving or planning to move all or some of their Java applications off Oracle​. What is driving this migration? What alternatives are there for enterprise customers who are planning to migrate from Oracle? I sat down with Scott Sellers, Co-founder and CEO, Azul, to get a pulse of the Java ecosystem and what alternatives users have.

Sellers pointed out the reasons why enterprises are moving away from Oracle Java, including cost and preference for open source, and the importance of understanding different versions of Java used within an enterprise and best practices for a like-for-like change.

Highlights:

Java usage in enterprise applications, including Netflix and financial services

• Azul is an enterprise software company that helps companies deploy Java-based apps and infrastructure cost-effectively, securely, and efficiently.
• Java usage remains high in the modern enterprise, with 98% of respondents in a recent survey saying they use Java within their companies.
• Sellers points out that Java is widely used in enterprise applications, including Netflix and financial services.
• Java is a critical programming language for building modern enterprise applications, touching everyone’s lives daily.

Oracle Java pricing changes and migration to open-source alternatives

• Oracle’s Java license changes have led to migration away from Oracle runtime.
• Sellers highlights that Cost and uncertainty around Oracle’s pricing practices are driving adoption of open-source alternatives to Java.
• He talks about open source and Java, with emphasis on Azul’s involvement and contribution to the OpenJDK community.
• Sellers states that enterprises prefer open source due to vendor lock-in concerns. He adds that OpenJDK distributions offer flexibility and choice for enterprises.
• He also highlights the importance of open source in software development, citing the success of the OpenJDK project.
• He credits the rigor and community involvement in the OpenJDK project for Java’s widespread adoption and compatibility.
• He also talks about the migration of Java from Oracle to open-source alternatives, noting that 84% of those who made the switch found the process easier than anticipated.
• Sellers explains that Java migration is not complex due to shared open source code.

Oracle Java and OpenJDK distributions are functionally the same, with no differences in compatibility tests or performance

• The discussion focuses on migration expectations and versions of Java used in enterprises.
• Sellers explains that vendors like Azul provide like-for-like versions of OpenJDK for each Oracle release, making migration straightforward for customers.
• He adds that Oracle remains committed to Java, despite declining use of Oracle Java distribution.
• Sellers highlights that the company provides free and paid versions of OpenJDK runtime, with 75% using free versions and 25% paying for support.
• He also points out that enterprises value technical expertise, timely support, and security updates from commercial vendors like Azul.
• Sellers adds that Oracle is the only vendor supporting older versions of Java, while Azul offers a holistic set of builds and support for all Java applications.

Guest: Scott Sellers (LinkedIn) 
Company: Azul (Twitter)
Show: Let’s Talk