Java updates that will have an impact on GeneXus 16: Java 8 will be the lowest Java version supported by GeneXus-generated applications
As from GeneXus 16 Upgrade 6 (to be released on october 2019) -and for security reasons of Java applications - Java will be supported starting from Java 8.
In the Java world, there have also been technological advances and updates that address security aspects.
In the different versions of Java, technological advances and updates have taken place at both the language and the compiler levels. In addition, security aspects have been enhanced, and as result many libraries now require recent versions of Java Runtime Environment (JRE).
In GeneXus, efforts have been made to ensure that the generated applications can run on both legacy and new versions of the JRE, maintaining compatibility as much as possible, with conditional code and deployment options where different libraries are used depending on the execution environment.
However, this approach is no longer possible and may even compromise the security of the generated applications. For this reason, as from GeneXus 16 Upgrade 5 the Java Development Kit (JDK) 1.6 will no longer be supported to compile the solutions, and JRE 1.6 will not be supported to run them, in order to keep pace with technological advances and the security requirements of the generated solutions.
Note that Java 6 has not been supported by Oracle for some time: https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/java-se-support-roadmap.html
In any case, GeneXus recommends updating the Java versions according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Also, if you don't use the latest Java versions, some functionalities may not be available in the generated applications, as explained in this Community Wiki article about runtime requirements of applications generated with the GeneXus Java generator: https://wiki.genexus.com/commwiki/servlet/wiki?30900,GeneXus+16+hardware+and+software+requirements,#Execution+requirements%3A
In the different versions of Java, technological advances and updates have taken place at both the language and the compiler levels. In addition, security aspects have been enhanced, and as result many libraries now require recent versions of Java Runtime Environment (JRE).
In GeneXus, efforts have been made to ensure that the generated applications can run on both legacy and new versions of the JRE, maintaining compatibility as much as possible, with conditional code and deployment options where different libraries are used depending on the execution environment.
However, this approach is no longer possible and may even compromise the security of the generated applications. For this reason, as from GeneXus 16 Upgrade 5 the Java Development Kit (JDK) 1.6 will no longer be supported to compile the solutions, and JRE 1.6 will not be supported to run them, in order to keep pace with technological advances and the security requirements of the generated solutions.
Note that Java 6 has not been supported by Oracle for some time: https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/java-se-support-roadmap.html
In any case, GeneXus recommends updating the Java versions according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Also, if you don't use the latest Java versions, some functionalities may not be available in the generated applications, as explained in this Community Wiki article about runtime requirements of applications generated with the GeneXus Java generator: https://wiki.genexus.com/commwiki/servlet/wiki?30900,GeneXus+16+hardware+and+software+requirements,#Execution+requirements%3A