Scheduled for a long-term support (LTS) release in September, Java Development Kit (JDK) 25 is shaping up with notable enhancements. Among the first confirmed changes are the introduction of a stable values API and the complete removal of support for 32-bit x86 architecture.

JDK 25 follows JDK 24, a short-term release expected on March 18. Unlike its predecessor, JDK 25 will benefit from Oracle’s extended support for at least five years, making it a crucial update for enterprises relying on long-term stability.

The stable values API is designed to enhance Java application performance by optimizing how immutable data objects are handled. These values function similarly to constants within the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), leading to performance boosts comparable to declaring fields as final. However, stable values provide additional flexibility by allowing their initialization timing to be more dynamic. This feature aims to streamline application startup by reducing the overhead of large-scale initialization. Additionally, it grants developers access to constant-folding optimizations, ensures single-instance initialization even in multi-threaded contexts, and separates value creation from initialization without incurring significant performance trade-offs.

Another major change in JDK 25 is the removal of the 32-bit x86 port, which had already been marked for deprecation in JDK 24. This means that both the source code and build support for 32-bit x86 architecture will be eliminated. The rationale behind this decision is the high maintenance cost relative to its benefits. Keeping older architectures up to date with modern Java features—such as the foreign function memory API—requires considerable effort. By retiring the 32-bit x86 port, OpenJDK developers can focus on advancing new capabilities without the burden of maintaining outdated platforms.

While these are the first confirmed updates, JDK 25 is likely to integrate additional features that were previewed in JDK 24. Potential inclusions are improvements like a key derivation function API, scoped values, structured concurrency, enhanced constructor flexibility, and refined module import declarations. More details will emerge as development progresses towards the final release.