Proposal for JSE API representing java.specification.version

[Andrew Guibert]

Hello all,

Many Java frameworks and applications require knowledge of the Java version
they are running on.  Currently the only way to check the Java version is
by doing:

    String javaVersion = System.getProperty("java.specification.version");

This of course returns a String, which is very awkward to work with when it
comes to comparisons.  For example, if I want to check if my code is
running at least on Java 8, I have to do the following:

    if (Pattern.matches("1\\.[0-7]", javaVersion))
        // at java 7 or earlier
    else
        // at java 8 or later

It would be nice if the JDK had a built-in enum, similar to what is
provided by org.apache.commons [1], so that Java version comparisons are
less awkward.

I'm not familiar with the process is for getting new APIs into the JDK, but
if it is a simple matter of making a pull request I can certainly do so.

Regards, Andy

[1]
https://commons.apache.org/proper/commons-lang/javadocs/api-3.1/org/apache/commons/lang3/JavaVersion.html