Tech

Java News Roundup: Grails 6.0, PrimeFaces 13.0, JUnit 5.10, GraalVM, TornadoVM, New JEP Drafts – InfoQ.com

Published

1 year ago

July 31, 2023

This week’s Java roundup for July 24th, 2023 features news from OpenJDK, JDK 22, JDK 21, GraalVM Community Components 23.0.1, Spring Cloud 2022.0.4, Spring Security and Spring Shell point releases, Grails 6.0, TornadoVM 0.15.2, Liberica NIK 23.0.1, PrimeFaces 13.0, Quarkus 3.2.2, Hibernate Reactive 2.0.4, Micronaut 4.0.2, JBang 0.110, JHipster Lite 0.39, JUnit 5.10 and Gradle 8.3-RC2.

OpenJDK

Maurizio Cimadamore, software architect at Oracle, has submitted JEP Draft 8310626, Foreign Function & Memory API. This JEP proposes to finalize this feature after two rounds of incubation and three rounds of preview: JEP 412, Foreign Function & Memory API (Incubator), delivered in JDK 17; JEP 419, Foreign Function & Memory API (Second Incubator), delivered in JDK 18; JEP 424, Foreign Function & Memory API (Preview), delivered in JDK 19; JEP 434, Foreign Function & Memory API (Second Preview), delivered in JDK 20; and JEP 442, Foreign Function & Memory API (Third Preview), to be delivered in the upcoming release of JDK 21. Improvements since the last release include: a new Enable-Native-Access manifest attribute that allows code in executable JARs to call restricted methods without the use of the --enable-native-access flag; allow clients to programmatically build C function descriptors, avoiding platform-specific constants; improved support for variable-length arrays in native memory; and support for multiple charsets in native strings.

Cimadamore and Per-Åke Minborg, consulting member of technical staff at Oracle, have submitted JEP Draft 8312611, Computed Constants. This JEP introduces the concept of computed constants, defined as immutable value holders that are initialized at most once. This offers the performance and safety benefits of final fields, while offering greater flexibility as to the timing of initialization. This feature will debut as a preview API.

Julian Waters, OpenJDK development team at Oracle, has submitted JEP Draft 8313278, Ahead of Time Compilation for the Java Virtual Machine. This JEP proposes to “enhance the Java Virtual Machine with the ability to load Java applications and libraries compiled to native code for faster startup and baseline execution.”

Version 7.3 of the Regression Test Harness for the JDK, jtreg, has been released and ready for integration in the JDK. Notable changes include: an updated set of default environment variables (DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS, WAYLAND_DISPLAY, and XDG-*) set for tests on Unix-like platforms; a fix for a race-condition when running tests with a multi-module setup; and a fix in the log() method defined in the AgentServer class that did not flush the output. More details on this release may be found in the release notes.

JDK 21

Build 33 of the JDK 21 early-access builds was also made available this past week featuring updates from Build 32 that include fixes to various issues. Further details on this build may be found in the release notes.

JDK 22

Build 8 of the JDK 22 early-access builds was also made available this past week featuring updates from Build 7 that include fixes to various issues. More details on this build may be found in the release notes.

For JDK 22 and JDK 21, developers are encouraged to report bugs via the Java Bug Database.

GraalVM

The release of GraalVM Community Components 23.0.1, comprised of GraalVM for JDK 20 Community 20.0.2 and GraalVM for JDK 17 Community 17.0.8, provides these Native Image fixes: jvmstat performance data initialization; JDK Flight Recorder (JFR) events constant pool IDs; user experience issues; and analysis results in build reports. There was also an update to the strip mining optimization for counted loops feature in which mine overflow loops are defined as “do not strip” in the Graal compiler. These new versions are built upon JDK versions 20.0.2+9 and 17.0.8+7, respectively. Further details on these releases may be found in the release notes for version 20.0.2 and version 17.0.8.

Similarly, GraalVM Community Edition 22.3.3 was also released to align with the April 2023 Critical Patch Update (CPU) for GraalVM Community Edition. This version is built upon JDK versions 17.0.7 and 11.0.19. More details on this release may be found in the release notes.

Further details on the latest release of GraalVM may be found in this detailed news story featuring Q&A with Alina Yurenko, developer advocate for GraalVM at Oracle Labs.

Spring Framework

The release of Spring Cloud 2022.0.4, codenamed Kilburn, delivers notable changes such as: support for retry-aware load-balancing for delegates of the ServiceInstanceListSupplier interface in Spring Cloud Commons; improved exception handling for loading shared beans in Spring Cloud Stream; and dependency upgrades to Feign 12.4 and Eureka 2.0.1 for Spring Cloud OpenFeign and Spring Cloud Netflix, respectively. This latest version builds upon Spring Boot 3.0.9. It is important to note that subprojects: Spring Cloud CLI, Spring Cloud for Cloud Foundry and Spring Cloud Sleuth, have been removed from the release train. More details on this release may be found in the release notes.

Versions 6.1.2, 6.0.5, 5.8.5, 5.7.10 and 5.6.12 of Spring Security have been released to address two Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures: CVE-2023-34034, WebFlux Security Bypass With Un-Prefixed Double Wildcard Pattern, is a vulnerability in which using the double wildcard (**) as a pattern in Spring Security configuration for Spring WebFlux creates a mismatch in pattern matching that may result in a security bypass; and CVE-2023-34035, Authorization Rules Can Be Misconfigured When Using Multiple Servlets, a vulnerability in which using the requestMatchers(String) method and multiple servlets, one of them being the Spring MVC DispatcherServlet class, may lead to an authorization rule misconfiguration. Further details on these releases may be found in the release notes for version 6.1.2, version 6.0.5, version 5.8.5, version 5.7.10, and version 5.6.12.

Versions 3.1.3, 3.0.7 and 2.1.12 of Spring Shell have been released featuring the addition of a complete() method in the CompletionProposal class to allow for completing a single argument with multiple tab clicks, such as file paths. These versions build upon Spring Boot versions 3.1.2, 3.0.9 and 2.7.14, respectively. More details on these releases may be found in the release notes for version 3.1.3, version 3.0.7 and version 2.1.12.

Grails

The Grails Foundation has released version 6.0 of Grails delivering: a minimal JDK 11 version; support for Spring Framework 5.3.28, Spring Boot 2.7.12 and Gradle 7.6.1; the debut of Grails Forge UI, a starter project similar to Spring Initializr and others; and enhanced integration of the Micronaut Framework. Further details on this release may be found in the release notes and InfoQ will follow up with a more detailed news story.

TornadoVM

TornadoVM, an open-source software technology company, has released version 0.15.2 of their virtual machine that ships with bug fixes and notable improvement such as: initial support for Multi-Tasks on Multiple Devices that enables the execution of multiple independent tasks on more than one hardware accelerator; support for trigonometric radian, cospi and sinpi functions for the OpenCL/PTX and SPIR-V backends; and initial integration with ComputeAorta (part of the Codeplay’s oneAPI construction kit for RISC-V) to run on RISC-V with vector instructions in emulation mode. More details on this release may be found in the release notes.

Juan Fumero, research associate, Advanced Processor Technologies Research Group at The University of Manchester, introduced TornadoVM at QCon London in March 2020 and has since contributed this more recent InfoQ technical article.

LibericaJDK

BellSoft has released version 23.0.1 of their Liberica Native Image Kit (NIK) for JDK 17.0.8 and 20.0.2 as part of Critical Patch Update (CPU) release cycle featuring: experimental support for ParallelGC on the Windows OS; a fix for the compilation of JavaFX FXML applications; and fixes for the following Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures: CVE-2023-22043; CVE-2023-22041; CVE-2023-25193; CVE-2023-22044; CVE-2023-22045; CVE-2023-22049; CVE-2023-22036; and CVE-2023-22006.

PrimeFaces

Version 13.0.0 of PrimeFaces has been released with bugs fixes, dependency upgrades and new features such as: support for columns and footer facet in the SelectCheckboxMenu class; the addition of selectOnFocus() and caretPositionOnFocus() methods in the InputNumber class; and the addition of a cache attribute in the OverlayPanel class. It is important to note that there are breaking changes. Further details on this release may be found in the release notes.

Quarkus

Red Hat has released version 3.2.2.Final of Quarkus to address two regressions from version 3.2.1 and improvements in documentation. Notable changes include: revert back to the openjdk-17-runtime:1.16 images due to the development branch having the version number bumped to 1.17 in anticipation of the next release scheduled for release in August 2023; remove the false positive warning about the quarkus.launch.rebuild property; and allow reauthentication if the OIDC state cookie is not matched. More details on this release may be found in the changelog.

Hibernate

The release of Hibernate Reactive 2.0.4.Final features: a dependency upgrade to Hibernate ORM 6.2.7.Final; start the Docker container only as requested to confirm that a remote database already started before executing the full build; and a fix for which the @SQLSelect annotation did not work on a primary entity. Further details on this release may be found in the release notes.

Micronaut

Micronaut Framework 4.0.2, the second maintenance release, provides bug fixes, improvements in documentation, dependency upgrades and improvements such as: add version number check to the BuildTestVerifier interface; and move Async validation to a processor module due to the AsyncTypeElementVisitor class defined as a compileOnly dependency. More details on this release may be found in the release notes.

The Micronaut Foundation has moved their chat community from Gitter to Discord effective immediately. The foundation states that Discord provides an improved desktop application experience, better-structured conversations and enhanced notifications. Developers on Gitter are encouraged to move to Discord, however the foundation will continue to monitor conversations on Gitter and provide links to Discord.

JBang

The release of JBang 0.110.0 ships with a change in its Maven Central ID from mavencentral to central for fetching dependencies to allow for better sharing of downloads between Maven- and JBang-based builds. There was also a fix for a regression in which Maven artifacts containing capital letters failed to download.

JHipster

Version 0.39.0 of JHipster Lite has been released featuring bug fixes, dependency upgrades and improvements such as: enhancements to the Logback dependency with improved configuration and the elimination of having to explicitly define the shutdown hook; add a getInstantOrDefault() method to the JHipsterModuleProperties class; and a switch to a non-parallel stream in REST pagination mapping to ensure sequential processing of the stream. Further details on this release may be found in the release notes.

JUnit

JUnit 5.10.0 has been released with new features such as: experimental APIs, such as ModuleSelector, EngineDiscoveryListener, EngineDiscoveryRequestResolver, LauncherSession and @Suite, have been promoted to stable; new selectors in the @SelectMethod annotation; and a new LauncherInterceptor interface for intercepting the creation of instances of the Launcher and LauncherSessionListener interfaces. More details on this release may be found in the release notes.

Gradle

The second release candidate of Gradle 8.3 delivers continued improvements such as: support for JDK 20; faster Java compilation using worker processes to run the Java compiler as a compiler daemon; the ability to experiment with the Kotlin K2 compiler; and improved output from the CodeNarc plugin. Further details on this release may be found in the release notes.

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Michael Redlich

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How to Preorder the PlayStation 5 Pro in Canada

Published

3 days ago

September 10, 2024

Harry Miller

Sony has made it easy for Canadian consumers to preorder the PlayStation 5 Pro in Canada directly from PlayStation’s official website. Here’s how:

Visit the Official Website: Go to direct.playstation.com and navigate to the PS5 Pro section once preorders go live on September 26, 2024.
Create or Log in to Your PlayStation Account: If you don’t have a PlayStation account, you will need to create one. Existing users can simply log in to proceed.
Place Your Preorder: Once logged in, follow the instructions to preorder your PS5 Pro. Ensure you have a valid payment method ready and double-check your shipping information for accuracy.

Preorder Through Major Canadian Retailers

While preordering directly from PlayStation is a popular option, you can also secure your PS5 Pro through trusted Canadian retailers. These retailers are expected to offer preorders on or after September 26:

Best Buy Canada
Walmart Canada
EB Games (GameStop)
Amazon Canada
The Source

Steps to Preorder via Canadian Retailers:

Visit Retailer Websites: Search for “PlayStation 5 Pro” on the website of your preferred retailer starting on September 26.
Create or Log in to Your Account: If you’re shopping online, having an account with the retailer can speed up the preorder process.
Preorder in Store: For those who prefer in-person shopping, check with local stores regarding availability and preorder policies.

3. Sign Up for Notifications

Many retailers and websites offer the option to sign up for notifications when the preorder goes live. If you’re worried about missing out due to high demand, this can be a useful option.

Visit Retailer Sites: Look for a “Notify Me” or “Email Alerts” option and enter your email to stay informed.
Use PlayStation Alerts: Sign up for notifications directly through Sony to be one of the first to know when preorders are available.

4. Prepare for High Demand

Preordering the PS5 Pro is expected to be competitive, with high demand likely to result in quick sellouts, just as with the initial release of the original PS5. To maximize your chances of securing a preorder:

Act Quickly: Be prepared to place your order as soon as preorders open. Timing is key, as stock can run out within minutes.
Double-Check Payment Information: Ensure your credit card or payment method is ready to go. Any delays during the checkout process could result in losing your spot.
Stay Informed: Monitor PlayStation and retailer websites for updates on restocks or additional preorder windows.

Final Thoughts

The PlayStation 5 Pro is set to take gaming to the next level with its enhanced performance, graphics, and new features. Canadian gamers should be ready to act fast when preorders open on September 26, 2024, to secure their console ahead of the holiday season. Whether you choose to preorder through PlayStation’s official website or your preferred retailer, following the steps outlined above will help ensure a smooth and successful preorder experience.

For more details on the PS5 Pro and to preorder, visit direct.playstation.com or stay tuned to updates from major Canadian retailers.

Tech

Introducing the PlayStation 5 Pro: The Next Evolution in Gaming

Published

3 days ago

September 10, 2024

Harry Miller

Since the PlayStation 5 (PS5) launched four years ago, PlayStation has continuously evolved to meet the demands of its players. Today, we are excited to announce the next step in this journey: the PlayStation 5 Pro. Designed for the most dedicated players and game creators, the PS5 Pro brings groundbreaking advancements in gaming hardware, raising the bar for what’s possible.

Key Features of the PS5 Pro

The PS5 Pro comes equipped with several key performance enhancements, addressing the requests of gamers for smoother, higher-quality graphics at a consistent 60 frames per second (FPS). The console’s standout features include:

Upgraded GPU: The PS5 Pro’s GPU boasts 67% more Compute Units than the current PS5, combined with 28% faster memory. This allows for up to 45% faster rendering speeds, ensuring a smoother gaming experience.
Advanced Ray Tracing: Ray tracing capabilities have been significantly enhanced, with reflections and refractions of light being processed at double or triple the speed of the current PS5, creating more dynamic visuals.
AI-Driven Upscaling: Introducing PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, an AI-based upscaling technology that adds extraordinary detail to images, resulting in sharper image clarity.
Backward Compatibility & Game Boost: More than 8,500 PS4 games playable on PS5 Pro will benefit from PS5 Pro Game Boost, stabilizing or enhancing performance. PS4 games will also see improved resolution on select titles.
VRR & 8K Support: The PS5 Pro supports Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and 8K gaming for the ultimate visual experience, while also launching with the latest wireless technology, Wi-Fi 7, in supported regions.

Optimized Games & Patches

Game creators have quickly embraced the new technology that comes with the PS5 Pro. Many games will receive free updates to take full advantage of the console’s new features, labeled as PS5 Pro Enhanced. Some of the highly anticipated titles include:

Alan Wake 2
Assassin’s Creed: Shadows
Demon’s Souls
Dragon’s Dogma 2
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Gran Turismo 7
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Horizon Forbidden West

These updates will allow players to experience their favorite games at a higher fidelity, taking full advantage of the console’s improved graphics and performance.

Design & Compatibility

Maintaining consistency within the PS5 family, the PS5 Pro retains the same height and width as the original PS5 model. Players will also have the option to add an Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Drive or swap console covers when available.

Additionally, the PS5 Pro is fully compatible with all existing PS5 accessories, including the PlayStation VR2, DualSense Edge, Pulse Elite, and Access controller. This ensures seamless integration into your current gaming setup.

Pricing & Availability

The PS5 Pro will be available starting November 7, 2024, at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of:

$699.99 USD
$949.99 CAD
£699.99 GBP
€799.99 EUR
¥119,980 JPY

Each PS5 Pro comes with a 2TB SSD, a DualSense wireless controller, and a copy of Astro’s Playroom pre-installed. Pre-orders begin on September 26, 2024, and the console will be available at participating retailers and directly from PlayStation via direct.playstation.com.

The launch of the PS5 Pro marks a new chapter in PlayStation’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge gaming experiences. Whether players choose the standard PS5 or the PS5 Pro, PlayStation aims to provide the best possible gaming experience for everyone.

Preorder your PS5 Pro and step into the next generation of gaming this holiday season.

Tech

Google Unveils AI-Powered Pixel 9 Lineup Ahead of Apple’s iPhone 16 Release

Published

1 month ago

August 13, 2024

Harry Miller

Google has launched its next generation of Pixel phones, setting the stage for a head-to-head competition with Apple as both tech giants aim to integrate more advanced artificial intelligence (AI) features into their flagship devices. The unveiling took place near Google’s Mountain View headquarters, marking an early debut for the Pixel 9 lineup, which is designed to showcase the latest advancements in AI technology.

The Pixel 9 series, although a minor player in global smartphone sales, is a crucial platform for Google to demonstrate the cutting-edge capabilities of its Android operating system. With AI at the core of its strategy, Google is positioning the Pixel 9 phones as vessels for the transformative potential of AI, a trend that is expected to revolutionize the way people interact with technology.

Rick Osterloh, Google’s senior vice president overseeing the Pixel phones, emphasized the company’s commitment to AI, stating, “We are obsessed with the idea that AI can make life easier and more productive for people.” This echoes the narrative Apple is likely to push when it unveils its iPhone 16, which is also expected to feature advanced AI capabilities.

The Pixel 9 lineup will be the first to fully integrate Google’s Gemini AI technology, designed to enhance user experience through more natural, conversational interactions. The Gemini assistant, which features 10 different human-like voices, can perform a wide array of tasks, particularly if users allow access to their emails and documents.

In an on-stage demonstration, the Gemini assistant showcased its ability to generate creative ideas and even analyze images, although it did experience some hiccups when asked to identify a concert poster for singer Sabrina Carpenter.

To support these AI-driven features, Google has equipped the Pixel 9 with a special chip that enables many AI processes to be handled directly on the device. This not only improves performance but also enhances user privacy and security by reducing the need to send data to remote servers.

Google’s aggressive push into AI with the Pixel 9 comes as Apple prepares to unveil its iPhone 16, which is expected to feature its own AI advancements. However, Google’s decision to offer a one-year free subscription to its advanced Gemini Assistant, valued at $240, may pressure Apple to reconsider any plans to charge for its AI services.

The standard Pixel 9 will be priced at $800, a $100 increase from last year, while the Pixel 9 Pro will range between $1,000 and $1,100, depending on the model. Google also announced the next iteration of its foldable Pixel phone, priced at $1,800.

In addition to the new Pixel phones, Google also revealed updates to its Pixel Watch and wireless earbuds, directly challenging Apple’s dominance in the wearable tech market. These products, like the Pixel 9, are designed to integrate seamlessly with Google’s AI-driven ecosystem.

Google’s event took place against the backdrop of a significant legal challenge, with a judge recently ruling that its search engine constitutes an illegal monopoly. This ruling could lead to further court proceedings that may force Google to make significant changes to its business practices, potentially impacting its Android software or other key components of its $2 trillion empire.

Despite these legal hurdles, Google is pressing forward with its vision of an AI-powered future, using its latest devices to showcase what it believes will be the next big leap in technology. As the battle for AI supremacy heats up, consumers can expect both Google and Apple to push the boundaries of what their devices can do, making the choice between them more compelling than ever.