The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →A successful build does not prove an application is compatible with a newer Java Development Kit (JDK). Run the existing application and tests on the target JDK first, then update dependencies and tools, compile for the intended Java platform level, scan for unsupported or removed APIs, and test again for behavior changes. Treat the upgrade as an iterative investigation: static checks can find some risks, but only runtime testing can reveal how your application behaves.
Start by reproducing the issue on the target JDK
Before changing source code or recompiling, run the existing application and its current tests with the JDK you plan to adopt. This helps distinguish runtime or library problems from errors introduced by recompilation. Oracle recommends an iterative migration and checking behavior even when an application starts successfully: Preparing for Migration (JDK 26).
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Record startup failures and warnings, obsolete virtual-machine (VM) options, exceptions, test failures, and differences in externally visible behavior. Keep the JDK version and exact commands with the results so that failures can be reproduced as you make changes.
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Check dependencies and development tools
Confirm that every third-party library and tool in the build path supports the target JDK. Review the versions used for Maven or Gradle, IDEs such as NetBeans, Eclipse, or IntelliJ, and any plugins or test runners the project depends on. Oracle identifies library, build-tool, and IDE compatibility as part of migration planning; that guidance does not guarantee support for a particular version of any product. Check each vendor’s release information for your chosen JDK: Oracle’s JDK 26 migration guidance.
Update incompatible dependencies and tools, then rerun the application and tests. If a failure disappears after a library update, keep the dependency change distinct from source fixes where practical; that makes it easier to identify which change addressed the incompatibility.
Compile for the Java platform level you intend to support
When appropriate, use the Java compiler’s --release option to target a specific Java platform level. It constrains compilation to that release’s language and platform API surface. Oracle includes --release among its migration recommendations: Next Steps (JDK 26).
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Choose the release based on the application’s support requirements, not simply the JDK installed on the build machine. A compile against the selected platform can reveal source or API incompatibilities, but it does not replace running the application and tests on the target runtime. Oracle distinguishes source, binary, and behavioral compatibility concerns in its migration guidance: Migrating From JDK 8 to Later JDK Releases (JDK 24).
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFind dependencies on internal JDK APIs
Run jdeps on the application and relevant libraries, using -jdkinternals to focus on references to internal JDK APIs. Replace those calls with supported APIs when possible. Oracle gives sun.misc.BASE64Encoder and java.util.Base64 as an example of an internal API and a supported alternative: Preparing for Migration (JDK 26).
A clean scan is not proof that no internal API is used: statically visible references may be detected, but reflection can evade the analysis. Review runtime warnings and library behavior as well, and exercise affected features in tests. Treat jdeps as a way to find leads, not as a substitute for runtime checks.
Check deprecated, removal-marked, and removed APIs
Use jdeprscan to investigate deprecated APIs, especially those marked for removal, and read the migration guide for the exact JDK release you are targeting. APIs already removed may require source or dependency changes rather than simply a warning fix.
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The command below is specific to the JDK 25 documentation example; change the release to match your target rather than treating it as a universal command:
jdeprscan --release 25 -l --for-removal
Oracle’s JDK 25 removed-API guide documents removals through that release and this jdeprscan example: Removed APIs (JDK 25). Oracle also recommends jdeprscan as a migration aid: Next Steps (JDK 26).
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Test behavior changes across release boundaries
Some compatibility failures do not produce compile errors. Java releases can introduce binary, source, or behavioral incompatibilities, so test the paths that depend on runtime defaults as well as the ones that compile. A useful example is the default charset: JDK 18 and later use UTF-8 for Java SE APIs on all operating systems, while JDK 17 and earlier could use an environment-dependent default. Applications that read or write text without explicitly specifying an encoding should test those operations when upgrading across this boundary. See Oracle’s JDK 21 migration guidance: Preparing for Migration (JDK 21).
When comparing two target releases, check the relevant dimensions rather than assuming one universal source of trouble:
- Source and binary compatibility.
- Runtime behavior and changed defaults.
- APIs removed or marked for removal.
- Internal API use, including reflective access that static scans may miss.
- Support for the target JDK in libraries, build tools, IDEs, and test tooling.
Prioritize the checks according to your application’s dependencies and tested behavior; the migration guidance does not establish a universal risk ranking.
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After updating tools, dependencies, or application code, rerun the checks that exposed the issue and the broader test suite on the target JDK. A practical sequence is to confirm startup, run unit and integration tests, and verify important user-visible workflows—especially those that rely on changed APIs, reflection, or runtime defaults. Keep separate notes on build failures, runtime failures, and behavior differences so that each remaining incompatibility has a clear next diagnostic step.
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