Step-by-Step Guide to Migrating from Java 8 to Java 17 (or Later): Tips, Checklist and Best Practices

This blog post topic would be of interest to software developers, system administrators, and technical managers who work with Java-based applications and need to migrate to a later version of the language.

A detailed migration plan will depend on the specific circumstances of your application and the scale of the migration. However, here's a general outline of the steps that a detailed migration plan might include:

Preparation:

• Identify the current Java version and the target version.
• Review the changes and new features in the target version of Java.
• Assess the impact on the application and identify any potential issues.
• Identify any third-party libraries or frameworks used by the application and check for compatibility with the target Java version.

Code changes:

• Make any necessary code changes to ensure compatibility with the target Java version.
• Remove deprecated or removed features.
• Implement new features in the target version.
• Refactor or rewrite the code to improve performance and maintainability.

Testing:

• Create a test plan for the migration.
• Write automated tests for the application.
• Test the application thoroughly to ensure that it continues to function correctly after the migration.
• Run automated and manual tests to check for compatibility and functionality.
• Conduct load testing to ensure that the application can handle the expected workload.

Deployment:

• Update build and deployment scripts to use the target Java version.
• Update documentation to reflect the new Java version.
• Update any configuration files to reflect the new Java version.
• Create a backup of the application and its data before deploying the updated version.
• Deploy the updated application to a test environment and verify the behavior of the application.

Production deployment:

• Perform the migration in a production environment.
• Monitor the application for any issues and troubleshoot if necessary.
• Roll back to the previous version if there are any major issues in the migration.
• Test the application in production environment
• Test the application for performance and scalability

Post Migration:

• Retire any old version and related resources
• Re-evaluate the impact and adjust your plan accordingly
• Document all changes and new features
• Keep monitoring the system for few days/week

Note: This list is very high level thoughts, and additional steps may be required depending on the specific circumstances of the migration. It is a good practice to have a detailed plan, testing and back-up before migrating in production environment.

Additionally, Would be glad to hear from you can also, how your organization did the migration, what challenges faced and how it was solved.

Thanks for reading!