February 22, 2023

According to a recent Gartner survey, many companies are reconsidering their use of Java due to licensing concerns.

According to Gartner, Oracle is targeting both existing Oracle customers and those who do not have any Oracle products after introducing the new Java SE Universal Subscription.

32% of companies that use Java intend to reduce their reliance on it, while 15% intend to eliminate it entirely. This is due to changes in the licensing of Java, which have made it more difficult and costly to use. Oracle, which owns Java, has changed its licensing terms several times in recent years, causing users to be confused and frustrated.

Among the changes has been the implementation of a new licensing model that requires businesses to pay for each processor that runs Java rather than each user. This has increased the cost of using Java in businesses, particularly in large-scale deployments.

Hence, many companies are considering Java alternatives such as Python, JavaScript, and Kotlin. These languages are thought to be more flexible and user-friendly than Java, especially for web and mobile development. However, Java continues to offer numerous advantages, particularly in enterprise applications where stability and reliability are highly valued.

Gartner goes on to discuss the difficulties that businesses face when navigating the complex world of software licensing. As technology advances, licensing models will need to evolve to meet the changing needs of users. This will necessitate careful consideration of the trade-offs between flexibility, cost, and ease of use, as well as a willingness to embrace emerging technologies. However, licensing compliance experts warned that Oracle would gradually force users to adopt the new model.

The sources for this piece include an article in TheRegister.