Java Expands Horizons: Support for a New Platform

Online Python Trainer for Beginners

Learn Python easily without overwhelming theory. Solve practical tasks with automatic checking, get hints in Russian, and write code directly in your browser — no installation required.

Start Course

Java Now Supports a New Platform: What Does This Mean for Developers?

Oracle has announced a significant expansion of the Java ecosystem. Starting with the latest version of the JDK, the Java programming language has officially gained support for a new computing platform. This event opens up opportunities for developers to create applications on previously unavailable devices and systems.

The new platform is RISC-V — an open instruction set architecture (ISA) that is rapidly gaining popularity in the world of embedded systems, IoT devices, and even server solutions. Previously, Java primarily supported x86 and ARM architectures, but now RISC-V has been added to the list. This decision was made in response to growing demand from the community and chip manufacturers.

Key Aspects of RISC-V Support in Java

Code Portability: Developers can run existing Java applications on devices with RISC-V without major changes. The JVM (Java Virtual Machine) has been adapted for this architecture at the interpreter and C2 (JIT) compiler level.
Performance: Initial benchmarks show that Java performance on RISC-V is comparable to ARM, although further optimization is expected in future patches.
Security: All standard Java security mechanisms (sandbox, security manager) work fully on the new platform.
Tooling: The updated JDK includes all necessary utilities (javac, jar, jlink) for cross-compilation targeting RISC-V.

Practical Significance for Developers

For the Java community, this means it is now possible to use a single language for writing code for both powerful servers (x86) and low-power microcontrollers (RISC-V). This is especially relevant for projects in the following areas:

Internet of Things (IoT) — sensors, smart homes, industrial automation.
Educational platforms — RISC-V is often used in educational processors.
Cloud computing — some providers are starting to experiment with RISC-V to reduce architecture licensing costs.

"This is a logical step in the development of Java as a truly cross-platform language," comments a representative of the Java Platform Group. "We are following the industry, and RISC-V is the future of open hardware." Full stabilization of support is expected in upcoming LTS releases.

How to Get Started?

To try Java on RISC-V, you need to:

Download the latest version of the JDK from the official website (build for Linux/RISC-V).
Install the QEMU emulator if you do not have a physical RISC-V device.
Run a test application: java -version should show the architecture riscv64.

Stay tuned for updates on PythonLib — we will be publishing practical guides and code examples for the new platform.