The Java programming language remains incredibly popular, with Python trailing it in popularity, according to a recent index. The latest release of Java 17 has shown significant growth since its initial release, surpassing non-LTS versions like Java 6, Java 10, and Java 16. The open source evolution of Java has led to a shift away from Oracle's JDKs, with Amazon Corretto growing in popularity, alongside other vendors such as Eclipse Adoptium and Azul Systems. Containers have become an essential element in cloud computing, with over 70% of Java applications reporting to New Relic running in containers, leading to changes in how teams use their computing resources and memory settings.