Time-based releases

Java 9 was released in 2017 and two releases were scheduled for 2018. Those releases were Java 10 and Java 11. The version numbers for these post-Java 9 releases followed the YY.M format. So, with Java 10 released in March 2018, the version number was 18.3. Java 11, released in September 2018, has a version number of 18.9.

The general premise behind the new time-based release model is to have releases scheduled predictably and frequently. Here are the details:

• Feature releases: Issued every six months (each March and September)
• Update releases: Issued every quarter
• Long-term support release: Issued every three years

There are great gains to be had, from a developer's perspective, with this model. Developers no longer need to wait long for releases to the Java platform. More significant is the fact that no release will represent a major change to the platform of the kind that Java 9 was.