The state of Java after Java 17

Java continues to be a dominant force in the software development world, remaining the second-most popular programming language globally according to the Popularity of Programming Language Index. The recent release of Java 17, the first long-term support (LTS) version since Java 11, marks a significant milestone, although its adoption is still in the early stages compared to Java 11, which has seen widespread use since its release. The evolution of Java as an open-source platform has contributed to a democratized market, with Oracle's dominance decreasing as competitors like Amazon Corretto, Eclipse Adoptium, and others gain traction. The proliferation of containerized applications, which over 70% of Java applications now leverage, reflects a broader trend in cloud computing that emphasizes efficient resource utilization. These developments underscore Java's integral role in shaping modern software development practices, as highlighted in New Relic's 2022 State of Java in the Ecosystem report.