Java community migrates from Oracle due to high costs, survey says

A recent survey and report conducted by Azul has revealed a significant shift in the Java community's stance towards Oracle Java.

According to the Oracle Java Usage, Pricing & Migration Survey and Report, 86% of Oracle Java users are migrating all or part of their use, primarily driven by concerns over cost, preference for open-source alternatives, uncertainty over Oracle's pricing changes, and the threat of Java usage audits.

The study engaged 663 experienced Java professionals globally, ranging from development team members to C-level executives. The findings underline the mounting challenges enterprises face in managing Java applications and infrastructure under Oracle's framework. Oracle's market share in JDK distribution has markedly declined, falling from approximately 75% in 2020 to 42% in 2023. This trend is corroborated by the survey, which shows a mere 14% of respondents intend to stick with Oracle Java.

According to the survey, several factors are pushing organisations away from Oracle Java. Over half of the respondents (53%) cited high costs, while 47% expressed a preference for open-source alternatives like OpenJDK. Uncertainty over ongoing changes in Oracle's pricing, licensing, and support policies was a concern for 38% of users, while 25% were worried about potential audits. Additionally, 24% found Oracle's support services unsatisfactory.

"The data from the Oracle Java Usage, Pricing & Migration Survey and Report paints a clear picture: Java users are looking for an equivalent or better alternative to Oracle Java SE which can address their business concerns regarding licensing and support costs and the risk of an audit," said Scott Sellers, co-founder and CEO of Azul. "There is a better path forward: organisations who have switched to commercially supported distributions based on OpenJDK report smooth experiences and achieved significant cost savings."

The survey indicates that a substantial proportion of organisations are in the process of migrating away from Oracle Java, with two-thirds planning to complete their transitions within the next two years. Among those who have already migrated, 75% reported that the process was completed within 12 months, and 23% within three months. Furthermore, 41% stated that the migration was easier than anticipated, while 43% said it went as planned.

Pricing and support emerged as critical issues among participants. Two-thirds of those who switched from Oracle Java to OpenJDK distributions reported cost savings. Additionally, 83% indicated their companies require Java support for production applications, whether through paid support or support integrated with their existing cloud and infrastructure platforms. The top priorities for paid support were identified as technical expertise (61%), timely releases and fixes (54%), customer support (42%), stabilised security-only updates (40%), and migration expertise (39%).

Sellers noted the broader implications of these trends: "The exodus away from Oracle Java is driven by mounting concerns over pricing changes and a growing preference for open-source alternatives. While some organisations initially hesitated to make the switch, our survey reveals that those who have migrated to OpenJDK distributions have had a positive experience. It's clear that the Java community is voting with its feet, seeking more cost-effective, flexible, and open solutions for their Java applications and Java-based infrastructure."