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BellSoft Supercharges Legacy Java Performance

In an exciting development for Java developers, BellSoft announced a critical upgrade to its Liberica JDK Performance Edition, now utilizing the latest Java Virtual Machine (JVM) from JDK 21. Released on July 22, 2025, this update promises exceptional performance enhancements for businesses still using older Java versions, specifically Java 8 and 11, without necessitating any code rewrites.

"This upgrade represents a way to future-proof applications without complicating the ongoing work of developers," remarked Alexander Belokrylov, co-founder and CEO of BellSoft. Many companies continue to operate their essential applications on Java 8 or 11 due to the stability these versions provide and their deep integration into existing systems. With the latest version of Liberica JDK, teams can access the advanced features of JDK 21 seamlessly, providing a simple upgrade path that capitalizes on modern Java benefits while maintaining simplicity.

Historically, newer Long-Term Support (LTS) versions of Java have delivered progressive improvements, but a significant section of the developer community still relies on earlier versions. Surprisingly, as of 2025, almost 28.8% of enterprises are still running Java 8, with JDK 11 also remaining a popular choice. A survey conducted in 2024 indicated that two-thirds of developers actively support applications on versions earlier than Java 11. Furthermore, nearly a quarter have reported increasing their budget to enhance the performance of these legacy systems. The Liberica JDK Performance Edition makes it possible for teams to experience enhanced performance without incurring the costs associated with extensive code revisions.

The Liberica JDK Performance Edition was initially introduced in April 2024, aimed at providing a substantial performance upgrade for legacy Java applications. This latest update takes it further by integrating the JVM and HotSpot components from JDK 21 directly into builds for JDK 8 and 11. This design enables enterprises to enjoy the speed and efficiency of contemporary Java runtimes while keeping to their existing deployment frameworks.

Key Upgrades in the New Release

The 22nd July upgrade features:

• - An upgrade of the core JVM from JDK 17 to JDK 21 for JDK 8 and 11 builds.
• - Performance improvements in most workloads, showing enhancements between 5-10%, with peak performance gains noted at 40% in specific scenarios.
• - Improved startup time, lower latency, and over twice the compression speed through zlib-ng, a next-generation data compression library that promises remarkable performance boosts over standard zlib implementations used in OpenJDK.

Performance and Runtime Enhancements

The latest iteration of Liberica JDK Performance Edition now supports production-ready ZGC with generational adjustments, optimized G1GC, and tools for runtime management such as AppCDS and segmented code cache. The enhanced compression capabilities with zlib-ng deliver notable benefits for data-heavy applications, providing the required speed and efficiency.

Benchmark Insights

Rigorous benchmarking was performed using the well-known Spring PetClinic as a reference application, showcasing substantial improvements across various performance metrics. For instance, compression speeds saw a significant increase of over 126%, and decompression improved by 149%. In enterprise testing scenarios via SpecJBB, throughput almost doubled, with notable increases in Critical JOps and MaxJOps when running G1GC under memory-constrained situations. Moreover, there was nearly a 100% reduction in latency during memory-intensive operations when migrating from JDK 8 G1GC to the Performance Edition employing ZGC. These enhancements deliver significant advantages to applications reliant on high throughput, efficient compression, and low-latency performance.

To discover further benchmarking details and find comprehensive technical documentation, interested individuals are invited to visit the Liberica JDK Performance Edition website.

Availability

The upgraded Liberica JDK Performance Edition is now accessible for JDK 8 and JDK 11, functioning on both x86_64 and AArch64 architectures. The builds are compatible with major operating systems such as Linux, Windows, and macOS, and additional configurations can be requested as needed.

Resources:

• - Download Liberica JDK
• - Join the live webinar on July 23 to learn practical tips for modernizing legacy Java applications.

Through these enhancements, BellSoft continues to position itself as a leader in the Java ecosystem, dedicated to providing a comprehensive and effective platform for application development across various industries. As trusted contributors to OpenJDK, their solutions enable organizations to build resilient, efficient, and future-ready applications.