IBM Domino and Java 8

Question

I'm developing XPages applications with IBM Domino 9.0.1 FP4 which uses an out-dated JVM with Java 6. This limitation is frequently forcing me to create Java apps outside of the Domino environment and run them in a secondary up-to-date JVM that is located on the same computer as the Domino server. This "solution" works but is far from being optimal. Hence I have two questions:

A) Is it possible to manually update the Domino JVM?

B) If not, is there an easier solution to use Java 7 or 8 with the current Domino version?

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Personal note: I know that one of the "next" Domino versions is supposed to feature Java 8. However, it is (at least to me) unclear when this release will happen. I have been waiting for an update of the Domino JVM for at least 1 or 2 years now and I have stopped believing that this will happen anytime soon...

Absorptance

This year will see new stuff in Notes – Aquifer

9.0.1FP9 still does not include Java 8 in Designer. www-10.lotus.com/ldd/fixlist.nsf/4/… – Dereism

Answer 1

You can't manually update the JVM. If you want to use different Java versions, you need to use the Crossworlds project. Danielle used it with the Websphere Liberty profile, while I use that approach with the vert.x framework for my ProjectCastle.

You can read about my experience with Domino and vert.x on my blog

Hope that helps!

Aquifer

Thanks very much for your answer. After taking a quick look at the CrossWorlds presentation and your blog entries about vert.x, I think this is exactly what I am looking for... yet it feels like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut :) – Absorptance

Interesting info. I read up on it a bit. I got the impression that... can you confirm... Websphere Liberty is free?! – Anticlerical

@RichardSchwartz for certain scenarios Liberty is free. Details here: developer.ibm.com/wasdev/docs/… – Aquifer

Thanks. That's actually pretty clear for IBM licensing info ;-) – Anticlerical