Instead, this release focused on cleaning up some of the sharp edges on existing features. None of them are major like lambdas were. The last release on the 2 - 3 year schedule, Java 9 contains a few new language features. But is it actually the case that we’re stuck with those of Java 8? Let’s take a look at the Java releases beyond 8 and see how the Android toolchain fares. With Java releases happening more frequently, Android’s yearly release schedule and delayed uptake of newer language features and APIs feels more painful.
I was hoping for that reaction because I mostly wrote that post so that I could set up this one. The rest of the Java ecosystem is starting to move to Java 11 (being the first long-term supported release after 8) after having toyed with Java 9 and 10.
There’s a future promise for the APIs which is essential for the health of the ecosystem.Ī lot of the reaction to the previous post echoed that Java 8 is quite old. We’re not quite there with the APIs yet, sadly, but D8 has us covered with the language features. Having support for the language features and APIs of Java 8 is table stakes at this point. The first post in this series explored Android’s Java 8 support. For an intro to D8 read “Android’s Java 8 support”. Note: This post is part of a series on D8 and R8, Android’s new dexer and optimizer, respectively.
0 kommentar(er)
