What’s New to Expect from Java in 2023? Updates, Emerging Trends, and Demand for Java Specialists

Looking at the year 2022, there’s no sign of Java popularity slowing down in all industries. Java has got two new versions, whereas VMware has finally released Spring Framework 6 and Spring Boot 3, which are commonly used in Java projects. And we bet Java will survive in the future and even evolve while adopting new trends. So, let’s check the nearest updates for Java in the year 2023.

What to Expect from New Versions?

The latest version of JDK (Java Development Kit) 19 was released in September 2022. The next version, Java 20, is going to be non-LTS and will see the world in March 2023, while the following version, Java 21, will be backed with Long-Term Support (LTS). Starting with the next version on the docket, Java 20, it will bring some great updates and add new functionality for immutable data, universal generics, and string templates. Here’s a list of features we’ll see in Java 20:

• Extent-local variables to allow sharing of immutable data within threads.
• Universal generics to combine the treatment of reference and primitive types in generic code.
• String templates to make it easier to express strings which include values computed at run time.
• An API for asynchronous stack traces.
• A classfile API to generate, and transform Java class files.
• Value objects to advance the Java object model with class instances that have final instances only.
• Primitive classes. These are special kinds of value classes that are going to define new primitive types.
• Sequenced collections offering a Collection interface.
• Record patterns to deconstruct record values.
• Foreign function and memory API to operate with code and data outside the Java runtime.
• Virtual threads (now available in Java 19 in testing mode) to simplify writing and maintaining high-throughput concurrent applications.
• A vector API (already appeared for the fourth time in JDK 19) to achieve better performance than scalar computations.
• Structured concurrency to ease multithreaded programming through an API (now, it's also in the testing phase in Java 19).
• Pattern matching for switch expressions and statements.

Java 20 will be a short-term release, meaning it’s covered with only six months of premium support by Oracle. But, as already mentioned, the following Java 21 will be an LTS (Long Term Support) release with a few years of Oracle support. Java 21 is going to see the world in September 2023 according to Oracle’s 2-year LTS cycle.

What Are the Top Java Trends in 2023?

Being frequently updated with new features, Java will surely stay relevant in a quick-evolving market and continue to be a widely-used programming language. And to help you better understand the prospect of Java, let’s also take a look at the relevant Java trends:

• Cloud Computing. In 2018, we saw a significant rise in serverless environments. But 2018 was just the year when we start considering cloud-native technology space as a “real thing”. Yet, the serious adoption of cloud-native technology was expected to come in the next 5 to 10 years. Hence, 2023 will probably be the beginning of serious changes. And this is when Java will come to the forefront (it’s great for use in the infrastructure of cloud computing).

• Artificial Intelligence (AI). Needless to say, AI is evolving at an enormous pace, and it already has a significant impact on many industries. And Java is ideal for building powerful AI apps due to its platform independence and portability. Plus, the object-oriented nature of Java allows for the development of complex algorithms. With that, we believe that AI is also going to affect Java developers pretty much.

• Machine Learning. One of the things that make Java unique is that it’s a multiparadigm programming language, meaning it’s not just a tool but a framework as well. Therefore, we believe that the rise of Java will drive the adoption of machine learning. And the other sub-trend that we predict will continue to grow in popularity is the introduction of Java-based ML frameworks.

• Spring Framework. It’s safe to say that Spring will continue to take a very important role in Java development. And, as Spring frameworks evolve (in 2022 we saw the release of Spring Framework 6 and Spring Boot 3), they will become even more powerful and easier to use. So, those Java devs who’d like to stay ahead should keep an eye on Spring.

• Platform-as-a-Service. Simply put, PaaS is a form of cloud infrastructure and as Java has support for cloud environments, we predict to see even more support for Java-based PaaS.

• Mobile Development. Mobile development is another area where Java will continue to thrive as it’s widely utilized for Android, the world’s most commonly-used mobile platform. And as the platform constantly gets some advancements, we expect more Java devs to work on Android app development. So, the future of Java in the Android development sphere looks bright.

Will Java Developers Still Be In Demand in 2023?

There has always been a strong demand for Java programming professionals, and this tendency doesn’t seem to change in 2023. Actually, the future of Java developers is shaping up very positively and promises a stable and well-paid job for them. For example, the most popular global employment website, Indeed, now offers more than 48,000 Java Developer Jobs, with median salaries of Junior specialists varying from $82,000 to $104,000 per year. In contrast, its main competitor, Glassdoor, lists more than 19,000 job openings for Java developers in the US alone, with great salaries reaching up to $182,000. And if we consider other related posts like Java Architect, Java engineer, Java programmer, Android app developer, and QA specialist the number of job openings will increase drastically.

Source: Indeed

Source: Glassdoor

Speaking about “occupied” jobs, the latest Zippia research shows that there are more than 174,712 Java Developers currently employed in the US alone. And according to the fact that the global IT market is only going to rise in the nearest future, we believe that there will be even more opportunities for skilled Java specialists (the IT market is expected to grow during 2023-2026 up to $13,092.49 billion at a CAGR of 8.8% according to The Business Research Company). Another report released by Statista shows that the global developer population is going to increase up to 27.7 millions worldwide, including almost 8 million Java developers. Such availability of Java specialists makes companies willing to choose Java for their projects, as they will probably have little trouble finding well-qualified Java developers. However, as technologies are constantly evolving and the number of skilled developers grows, Java devs should be ready to continuously update their knowledge and upgrade their skills to stay ahead of the competition.

Wrapping Up

Undoubtedly, Java will remain one of the most popular and well-established programming languages, helping create web, mobile, and desktop applications. And not only that. The beauty of Java is that it boasts a base everywhere, making it a natural pathway for AI, machine learning, big data, IoT, blockchain, and other upcoming trends. So, we bet Java is going to take center stage in the adoption of emerging technologies, which makes it a luring option when looking for employment as a Java developer in 2023. Ultimately, Java has a bright future and it will keep its dominance. Do you agree? What major changes do you expect in the Java industry during the next year? What’s the future of Java in your opinion? You’re welcome to share your thoughts and predictions with us!