I think I'm starting to understand this, but I was unable to find a satisfactory answer anywhere else and would love confirmation from someone with more java experience:
When I go to java.com to download the Java Runtime Environment (JRE), the latest version I can find there is Java 8, which was released 10 years ago and has already hit its "End of Public Updates" date. There are 3 (soon to be 4) LTE releases that are newer than version 8, so why does java.com continue to recommend Java 8? Where do I get the new LTE versions?
Oracle's intention is (was) that Java.com is the place where "end users" of Java should download Java JREs1. Java 8 is the last official Oracle Java release that is aimed at end users; i.e. the last one that is available from Oracle2 as a JRE. Ergo ...
For Java 9 and onward, Oracle doesn't want to be in the business of supporting end users. Rather they want application developers to take on the task of providing the required Java JRE as part of their application distribution and support channels. Oracle's view is that Java application developers and suppliers / vendors should ship their applications with custom JREs created using the jlink and jpackager tools introduced with Java 9.
One point of evidence is in the Java.com Help pages, where you will find this:
Why should I download Java only from java.com?
There are only two sites where official downloads and updates for Java are provided by Oracle:
- Java.com is recommended
- Advanced users and developers may download from the Oracle Technology Network (OTN), where the Java Development Kit (JDK) is also available.
So:
Where do I get the new LTE3 versions?
If you are a Java developer or system administrator, you can get Oracle JDKs and (in some cases Oracle JREs2) from:
There are other non-Oracle vendors and/or distribution channels. For example MacOS developers typically use something called "sdkman", and Linux users typically install the equivalent of a JRE or JDK using the distro's package manager.
But if you are an end user of Java via some 3rd-party Java application, you should refer to the support documentation or channels for the application. They should tell you what to do. Note that it is common for an application to depend on specific Java versions.
1 - My recollection is that Java.com was always aimed at end users.
2 - Java stopped providing public JRE releases after Java 8, but they continue to be available from other Java vendors.
3 - I think you mean LTS not LTE. Oracle doesn't use the term LTE for Java releases.