As of October 26, 2023, Java 15 is 3 years, 1 month, and 10 days old.
Java SE 15, a significant release in the Java development roadmap, was officially released on September 16, 2020. This version introduced several new features and enhancements, continuing Oracle's rapid release cadence model adopted in 2018.
Java Release Cadence and History
Oracle transitioned to a predictable, time-based release schedule, delivering new Java versions every six months. This strategy aims to accelerate feature delivery and provide developers with more frequent access to innovations. Long-Term Support (LTS) releases, such as Java 17, are designated every few years to offer extended support and stability for enterprises.
Below is a snapshot of recent Java SE versions and their respective release dates, illustrating this consistent release pattern:
| Version | Class File Format Version | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| Java SE 15 | 59 | 16th September 2020 |
| Java SE 16 | 60 | 16th March 2021 |
| Java SE 17 | 61 | 14th September 2021 |
| Java SE 18 | 62 | 22nd March 2022 |
This consistent release schedule allows the Java platform to evolve more rapidly, integrating new language features, JVM improvements, and API enhancements at a steady pace.
