Despite being nearly 27 years old, Java is still consistently rated in the top three most popular programming languages in use. The reason for this popularity extends beyond the syntax of the language to the power of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). With its ability to handle internet-scale workloads, the JVM delivers the performance required for mission-critical enterprise applications.

In this session, we’ll explore Java as it is in 2022. JDK 17 is the ninth (yes, ninth) release in four years. As a long-term support (LTS) release, this is one that many users will choose to use in production. We’ll review the significant new features developers will now be able to exploit as they develop their next applications. With JDK 18 just around the corner and longer term projects like Loom likely to be included soon, what does this year hold for Java?