Java runtime solutions company Azul Systems has announced the general availability of its Zulu runtime for Java release 8.1. This is a commercialized build of OpenJDK now supporting Mac OS X, thus providing a 100% open source JDK for Java developers building applications on the Mac.
Zulu 8.1 for Mac OS X is freely downloadable and supports both Java SE 8 and Java SE 7. Azul offers a variety of tiered commercial support options via Zulu Enterprise.
Zulu 8.1 also supports a variety of other operating systems such as Linux and Windows. The company says its mission centers around making it easy for developers to download and update their Java development and runtime environment.
According to a statement from Azul, "Oracle has worked hard to eliminate unprofitable product lines and to maximize its profits from those that have survived. With Java, Oracle's strategy has been to issue frequent new releases of Java, end-of-life earlier versions and then charge for continued support. Azul's Zulu threatens Oracle’s strategy by providing cost-effective support and enables enterprises to upgrade when they want and not be pressurized by Oracle. With the launch of Zulu 8.1, any company that uses OS X now has a choice."
Developers looking into the product will find new Debian (*.deb) installer packages for Ubuntu and Debian Linux families. This is in addition to Zip-based packages, and can be accessed through the standard Apt-Get command.
There is also support for distribution of Zulu RPM packages via a Yum repository updated Microsoft Azure Web Platform Installer (WebPI), updates for both OpenJDK 8 and 7 including accumulated bug and security fixes included in Java 8 update 5, and Java 7 update 55.
"Zulu 8.1 represents a trifecta for the open source Java community," said Scott Sellers, Azul Systems president and CEO. "Java developers can now run their favorite IDE on their preferred Windows, Linux, and Mac-based system on a freely available, 100% open source, commercialized build of OpenJDK. This gives Java developers and enterprises tremendous platform flexibility and choice, and demonstrates Azul's continued commitment to offering open source solutions to the broad Java community."
"While the popularity of Macs has been gradually increasing over the past decade, their rise within the developer population has been far more dramatic and immediate," said Stephen O'Grady, principal analyst at RedMonk. "Between the aesthetics, the UNIX core and the fact that it 'Just Works,' OS X has been the platform of choice at conferences like OSCON for years now."
