Java Expands Horizons: Support for a New Platform for Developers

Java officially supports a new platform: what has changed for developers?

The world of Java development has received a significant update. At the recent JavaOne conference, Oracle announced the expansion of official Java support to a new platform — RISC-V (an open instruction set architecture). This event is a logical continuation of the strategy to universalize the language and adapt it to modern hardware solutions.

What is RISC-V and why is it important?

RISC-V is an open instruction set architecture (ISA) that is rapidly gaining popularity in the world of embedded systems, IoT devices, and even server solutions. Unlike proprietary x86 and ARM architectures, RISC-V does not require licensing fees, making it attractive for startups and large technology companies.

Now, with official Java support on RISC-V, developers get the opportunity to:

• Port Java applications to devices with RISC-V architecture without additional adaptation;
• Use the full Java technology stack — from Java SE to Java EE — on new types of hardware;
• Optimize performance thanks to native JVM (Java Virtual Machine) support for this platform;
• Reduce costs for developing embedded systems and microcontrollers.

Technical details and code examples

RISC-V support is implemented at the OpenJDK level and includes a port for the 64-bit version of the architecture (RV64G). Developers can already download an early version of the JDK with RISC-V support through the official OpenJDK repository.

Example of a simple Java application that will now run on RISC-V without changes:

public class HelloRiscV {    public static void main(String[] args) {        System.out.println("Java работает на RISC-V!");        // Checking the architecture        String arch = System.getProperty("os.arch");        System.out.println("Архитектура: " + arch);    }}

As you can see, the code remains classic Java — no special annotations or dependencies are required. All the adaptation work is handled by the JVM.

How will this affect the Java ecosystem?

The introduction of RISC-V support is not just a technical update. It is a signal to the market that Java continues to be a flexible and independent programming language, ready to work on any hardware. This is especially important for:

• Internet of Things (IoT) — billions of RISC-V devices will be able to run Java code;
• Cloud computing — the emergence of RISC-V servers will reduce the cost of cloud resources;
• Education — students will be able to learn Java on cheap RISC-V boards (e.g., StarFive VisionFive);
• Blockchain and cryptocurrencies — many projects already use RISC-V to create secure hardware wallets.

What's next?

Currently, RISC-V support is in early access status, but a full stable version is expected by the release of JDK 24. Developers are recommended to start testing their projects on RISC-V emulators to prepare for the future release.

Thus, Java once again proves its versatility, paving the way for new hardware platforms and use cases. Stay tuned for updates on pythonlib.ru — we will keep you informed.