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BASIS and Oracle Java Licensing

PostedOctober 9, 2023
UpdatedApril 1, 2025
ByJeff Ash

At BASIS, we prioritize secure and high-performing Java-based applications. As a result, we have ended support for Oracle Java 8 and all Java 11 builds due to their outdated status and security vulnerabilities. We recommend upgrading to Long-Term Support (LTS) versions, such as Java 17 or 21, which are compatible with current BBj versions. This helps reduce risk and ensures ongoing access to security updates and enhancements.

Oracle introduced the Java No-Fee Terms and Conditions (NFTC)  in September 2021, allowing free use of JDK 17 in production until September 2024. Now, continued use requires a paid subscription, which may impact your Java version decisions when deploying with BASIS technologies.

BASIS supports BBj on specific Long-Term Support (LTS) versions of Java. BBj/BBx versions 24.xx and 25.xx are verified to run on Java JDK versions 17 and 21. Compatibility with Java 17 was introduced in BBj version 22.00, and BBj 25.00 and future versions continue to maintain compatibility.

As of September 2024, one year after the release of Java 21, Oracle JDK 17 is no longer available under the NFTC license. Continued use now requires a paid Oracle Java SE Subscription. 

​​BASIS ensures that BBj operates effectively across various Java Development Kits (JDKs) by supporting Oracle JDK and OpenJDK distributions, particularly those from Eclipse Temurin. To maintain optimal performance, it’s essential to align BBj versions with the appropriate Java Long-Term Support (LTS) releases: BBj versions 22.00 and later are compatible with Java 17, and BBj version 24.00 and later are compatible with Java 21. These pairings ensure BBj remains up-to-date and functions efficiently with the latest Java LTS versions. 

What do these changes mean for you? Here’s how they affect your options moving forward:

You continue to have a choice in which LTS distribution of Java you choose to use:

  • OracleJDK 8 requires a paid Oracle Subscription for updates after April 16, 2019. Pricing started at $25/month per processor and $2.50/month per named user.
  • Oracle JDK 11 requires a paid Oracle Subscription ($25/month per processor, $2.50/month per named user).
  • Java 21 is free to use in production under Oracle’s No-Fee Terms and Conditions (NFTC) license until September 2026. After that, a paid Oracle Java SE Subscription will be required. Organizations should plan ahead or consider free OpenJDK alternatives like Eclipse Temurin, which can be used with BBj under BASIS’s Software Asset Management (SAM) program.
  • OpenJDK 11+ remains free under the GPL license; however, later versions of BBj are no longer compatible with Java 11, including open-source distributions. For compatible LTS versions such as Java 17 and 21, BBj requires a SAM agreement when using OpenJDK distributions. Eclipse Temurin is a distribution that can be used with BBj under the SAM program.
  • Open JDK LTS is maintained by the Eclipse Foundation’s Adoptium Working Group, backed by major vendors like IBM, Red Hat, Azul, and Microsoft. BASIS tests and supports compatible versions of BBj on Eclipse Temurin distributions, including those used by IBM, but does not officially support BBj on other third-party JDKs.
  • Note: BBj is only compatible with Java distributions built on the HotSpot JVM. Distributions using alternative JVMs, such as the OpenJ9 JVM  are not supported and may cause compatibility issues.
  • Oracle Java SE 17, along with any future Long-Term Support (LTS) Java versions, will be free under the No-Fee Terms and Conditions (NFTC) for only one year after the release of the next LTS version. After this period, a paid support agreement will be required.

As of this article’s writing, Oracle Java SE Subscription pricing follows an employee-based model, starting at $15 per employee per month for organizations with up to 999 employees. The required number of licenses is determined by the total number of employees, defined as all full-time, part-time, and temporary employees, as well as all full-time, part-time, and temporary employees of agents, contractors, outsourcers, and consultants who support internal business operations. This means the licensing requirement is based on the total number of employees, not just those directly using the programs. For larger organizations, costs decrease with tiered pricing based on total employee count. For the most up-to-date pricing details, refer to Oracle Java SE Universal Subscription

Further Reading:

If you would like to read more on this announcement, here are a few articles to review:

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