Java 8 (LTS) → Java 11 (LTS) → Java 17 (LTS) → Java 21 (LTS) → Java 25 (LTS)
     │              │               │              │               │
     └──────────────┴───────────────┴──────────────┴───────────────┘
                         Always migrate LTS → LTS

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<properties>
    <java.version>21</java.version>
    <maven.compiler.source>${java.version}</maven.compiler.source>
    <maven.compiler.target>${java.version}</maven.compiler.target>
</properties>

<!-- Or with compiler plugin -->
<plugin>
    <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
    <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
    <version>3.12.1</version>
    <configuration>
        <release>21</release>
    </configuration>
</plugin>

java {
    toolchain {
        languageVersion = JavaLanguageVersion.of(21)
    }
}

mvn clean compile 2>&1 | head -50

mvn test

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<!-- JAXB (if needed) -->
<dependency>
    <groupId>jakarta.xml.bind</groupId>
    <artifactId>jakarta.xml.bind-api</artifactId>
    <version>4.0.1</version>
</dependency>
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.glassfish.jaxb</groupId>
    <artifactId>jaxb-runtime</artifactId>
    <version>4.0.4</version>
    <scope>runtime</scope>
</dependency>

<!-- Annotation API -->
<dependency>
    <groupId>jakarta.annotation</groupId>
    <artifactId>jakarta.annotation-api</artifactId>
    <version>2.1.1</version>
</dependency>

--add-opens java.base/java.lang=ALL-UNNAMED
--add-opens java.base/java.util=ALL-UNNAMED

<plugin>
    <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
    <artifactId>maven-surefire-plugin</artifactId>
    <configuration>
        <argLine>
            --add-opens java.base/java.lang=ALL-UNNAMED
        </argLine>
    </configuration>
</plugin>

// var (local variable type inference)
var list = new ArrayList<String>();  // instead of ArrayList<String> list = ...

// String methods
"  hello  ".isBlank();      // true for whitespace-only
"  hello  ".strip();        // better trim() (Unicode-aware)
"line1\nline2".lines();     // Stream<String>
"ha".repeat(3);             // "hahaha"

// Collection factory methods (Java 9+)
List.of("a", "b", "c");     // immutable list
Set.of(1, 2, 3);            // immutable set
Map.of("k1", "v1");         // immutable map

// Optional improvements
optional.ifPresentOrElse(
    value -> process(value),
    () -> handleEmpty()
);

// HTTP Client (replaces HttpURLConnection)
HttpClient client = HttpClient.newHttpClient();
HttpRequest request = HttpRequest.newBuilder()
    .uri(URI.create("https://api.example.com"))
    .build();
HttpResponse<String> response = client.send(request,
    HttpResponse.BodyHandlers.ofString());

// Records (immutable data classes)
public record User(String name, String email) {}
// Auto-generates: constructor, getters, equals, hashCode, toString

// Sealed classes
public sealed class Shape permits Circle, Rectangle {}
public final class Circle extends Shape {}
public final class Rectangle extends Shape {}

// Pattern matching for instanceof
if (obj instanceof String s) {
    System.out.println(s.length());  // s already cast
}

// Switch expressions
String result = switch (day) {
    case MONDAY, FRIDAY -> "Work";
    case SATURDAY, SUNDAY -> "Rest";
    default -> "Midweek";
};

// Text blocks
String json = """
    {
        "name": "John",
        "age": 30
    }
    """;

// Helpful NullPointerException messages
// a.b.c.d() → tells exactly which part was null

// Virtual Threads (Project Loom) - MAJOR
try (ExecutorService executor = Executors.newVirtualThreadPerTaskExecutor()) {
    executor.submit(() -> handleRequest());
}
// Or simply:
Thread.startVirtualThread(() -> doWork());

// Pattern matching in switch
String formatted = switch (obj) {
    case Integer i -> "int: " + i;
    case String s -> "string: " + s;
    case null -> "null value";
    default -> "unknown";
};

// Record patterns
record Point(int x, int y) {}
if (obj instanceof Point(int x, int y)) {
    System.out.println(x + ", " + y);
}

// Sequenced Collections
List<String> list = new ArrayList<>();
list.addFirst("first");    // new method
list.addLast("last");      // new method
list.reversed();           // reversed view

// String templates (preview in 21)
// May need --enable-preview

// Scoped Values (preview) - replace ThreadLocal
ScopedValue<User> CURRENT_USER = ScopedValue.newInstance();
ScopedValue.where(CURRENT_USER, user).run(() -> {
    // CURRENT_USER.get() available here
});

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// Scoped Values (FINAL in Java 25) - replaces ThreadLocal
private static final ScopedValue<User> CURRENT_USER = ScopedValue.newInstance();

public void handleRequest(User user) {
    ScopedValue.where(CURRENT_USER, user).run(() -> {
        processRequest();  // CURRENT_USER.get() available here and in child threads
    });
}

// Structured Concurrency (Preview, redesigned API in 25)
try (StructuredTaskScope.ShutdownOnFailure scope = StructuredTaskScope.open()) {
    Subtask<User> userTask = scope.fork(() -> fetchUser(id));
    Subtask<Orders> ordersTask = scope.fork(() -> fetchOrders(id));

    scope.join();
    scope.throwIfFailed();

    return new Profile(userTask.get(), ordersTask.get());
}

// Stable Values (Preview) - lazy initialization made easy
private static final StableValue<ExpensiveService> SERVICE =
    StableValue.of(() -> new ExpensiveService());

public void useService() {
    SERVICE.get().doWork();  // Initialized on first access, cached thereafter
}

// Compact Object Headers - automatic, no code changes
// Objects now use 64-bit headers instead of 128-bit (less memory)

// Primitive Patterns in instanceof (Preview)
if (obj instanceof int i) {
    System.out.println("int value: " + i);
}

// Module Import Declarations (Preview)
import module java.sql;  // Import all public types from module

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// Before (Spring Boot 2.x)
import javax.persistence.*;
import javax.validation.*;
import javax.servlet.*;

// After (Spring Boot 3.x)
import jakarta.persistence.*;
import jakarta.validation.*;
import jakarta.servlet.*;

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**Automated migration:**
```bash

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<parent>
    <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
    <version>3.2.2</version>
</parent>

<!-- Hibernate 6 (auto-included) -->
<!-- Spring Security 6 (auto-included) -->

// ID generation strategy changed
@Id
@GeneratedValue(strategy = GenerationType.IDENTITY)  // preferred
private Long id;

// Query changes
// Before: createQuery returns raw type
// After: createQuery requires type parameter

// Before
Query query = session.createQuery("from User");

// After
TypedQuery<User> query = session.createQuery("from User", User.class);

java.lang.reflect.InaccessibleObjectException: Unable to make field accessible

--add-opens java.base/java.lang=ALL-UNNAMED
--add-opens java.base/java.lang.reflect=ALL-UNNAMED

java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: javax.xml.bind.JAXBContext

<dependency>
    <groupId>org.projectlombok</groupId>
    <artifactId>lombok</artifactId>
    <version>1.18.30</version>
</dependency>

<dependency>
    <groupId>org.mockito</groupId>
    <artifactId>mockito-core</artifactId>
    <version>5.8.0</version>
    <scope>test</scope>
</dependency>

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---