javajmc

Is Java Mission Control included with a JDK?

Are JMC binaries included in open JDK ? We have openjdk-1.8.0.252 in our Linux platform , but we do not have JMC ?

Can we install JMC as separate application that runs on JVM already installed ? Can we use JMC in production environments ? If yes, please let me know the path to install JMC for open JDK

Solution

  • About Mission Control

    JDK Mission Control was previously a proprietary commercial offering from Oracle, known as Java Mission Control. Oracle then open-sourced it as a subproject on the OpenJDK project. Now available free-of-cost.

    See that subproject page, Mission Control, and this wiki page. Notice the “Java” trademarked word has been dropped from the name.

    As of 2024-05, the current version of the JDK Mission Control (JMC) project is 9.

    See a quick demo in 2024 of JMC 9 on YouTube.

    Flight Recorder

    Similarly Oracle’s Flight Recorder product, is now open-sourced within the OpenJDK project. See JEP 328: Flight Recorder. Flight Recorder is currently being bundled with the JDK in my experience, while Mission Control is a separate download.

    Java 11

    In Java 11, the current LTS version, you will need to download and install the binary of Mission Control.

    Binary distributions available from various vendors. These include Azul Systems, BellSoft, Oracle, Microsoft, Red Hat, IBM, SAP, Amazon, and Adoptium of Eclipse Foundation (formerly AdoptOpenJDK).

    Mission Control requires a JDK to run. Here is a flowchart I made to guide you in choosing a vendor for a JDK implementation.

    Flowchart guiding you in choosing a vendor for a Java 11 implementation

    Java 8

    Be aware that Oracle changed its licensing on its product Oracle JDK. That product now requires a fee for use in production. As I recall, even before that change, Oracle required a fee for use of its Java Mission Control product in production.

    Now Oracle has generously transferred the product to the OpenJDK project. Since open-sourcing under the OpenJDK project, other vendors are free to back-port Mission Control to Java 8 per the new licensing terms.

    I know of at least one such vendor: