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?
I'll post my hunch below, but I'd love confirmation or any corrections/clarifications!
Oracle's intention is 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 Java as part of their application distribution and support. Oracle's intention is that Java application developers and 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.
1 - My recollection is that Java.com was always aimed at end users.
2 - JREs for later Java releases and so on are available from other Java vendors.