Dear Apache Geode Developer Community, I’m thrilled to announce that our develop branch and CI/CD pipeline (including CodeQL workflow) have successfully migrated from Java 8 to Java 17 LTS: [GEODE-10465] Migrate Apache Geode to Java 17: JAXB Integration, Module System Compatibility, and Test Infrastructure Modernization (#7930).
As part of this upgrade, we now have external JAXB dependencies integrated, maintaining XML processing functionality after JAXB removal from JDK 11+. While we still need to migrate this to Jakarta, this step is a necessary waypoint on our journey toward the final destination. This is a significant milestone for the project and a testament to the dedication, collaboration, and technical excellence of this community. Your thoughtful reviews, constructive feedback, and persistence made this possible—thank you for investing your time and expertise. But this is just the beginning. We’re setting our sights on an even more ambitious modernization roadmap: -Java 21 for long-term stability and performance -Jakarta EE 10 for modern enterprise standards -Spring Framework 6 & Spring Security 6 for enhanced security and flexibility -Gradle 7 for improved build efficiency -Eclipse Jetty 12, Apache Lucene 9, Apache HTTP 5, and Tomcat 10 for cutting-edge integration -A new Geode Session Manager for Tomcat 10 to improve session handling -Gradle migration to version 8.5 to enable Java 21 upgrade This journey is long, but every step brings us closer to a more robust, future-ready platform. With the momentum you’ve created and the spirit of collaboration that defines this community, I’m confident we’ll achieve these goals together. Thank you for your continued support, energy, and commitment. Every contribution—big or small—moves us forward. Let’s keep innovating, keep collaborating, and show what’s possible when a passionate community works toward a shared vision. The best chapters of Geode’s story are still ahead—let’s write them together! Best regards, Jinwoo Hwang (he/him/his) SAS® Research and Development http://JinwooHwang.com<http://jinwoohwang.com/>
