Can I run a java program built using Java 8 (.192) using JRE 17, or does everything (JRE, JVM, JDK) have to be on the correct Java 8 version first?

Question

I have a program for work that I'm told will only use Java version 8 update 192 to run correctly. When I downloaded eclipse, it's suggesting that I use JRE 17.0.2 but I recalled my coworker saying I need Java 8 update 192 otherwise it won't work. Does the JRE version matter? Is it irrelevant?

Perhaps I need to download JRE 8.192? I'm not sure. Any help would be appreciated.

Answer 1

Java 8 is still available, as the first Long-Term Support (LTS) version. I would suggest starting with the latest update of Java 8. The current release is Update 402 (as seen on Adoptium).

Be aware that Java 8 is not receiving regular updates for the public except for critical security patches. You may want to consider paying for a support contract from any number of vendors such as Azul Systems or Oracle to get support including possible additional updates releases through the rest of this decade.

Generally Java apps will run on later versions of Java without any modifications needed. The Java team at Oracle and the OpenJDK community place a very high priority on preserving that compatibility.

However, there are exceptions to the compatibility policy. In particular: Java 9 introduced the Java Platform Module System which caused some problems in some apps. And in later versions of Java some libraries that were previously bundled are now removed. Some of those removed libraries were transferred to the Jakarta EE project at the Eclipse Foundation. Some were abandoned for lack of interest such as CORBA.

Some few parts of Java that were for years marked as “deprecated for eventual removal” have now been removed.

If you consider moving beyond Java 8, I suggest your first step be sitting down to read through the Release Notes for every release of Java. They are quite well-written. They should alert you to any issues that may affect your app.

FYI, Java 21 is the latest LTS version. Java 23 is current, as of 2024-11. Java 24 arrives in the Spring. A major new version arrives every six months. Java 25 in Fall of 2025 is likely to be the next LTS version. Keep track of Java versions on Wikipedia.