Request for clarification about changes in Hotspot across 8, 9, and 10

[David Holmes]

Hi Gustavo,

This is really a question for jdk8u-dev - cc'd.

On 24/03/2017 8:24 AM, Gustavo Romero wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I understand the current status of OpenJDK 8, 9, and 10 regarding changes in
> Hotspot as:
>
> jdk8u: "We're open for fixes for 8u152 in the jdk8u-dev forest"                        [1]
> jdk9 : We passed Rampdown Phase 2 (2017/03/16) so "only showstopper bugs can be fixed" [2]
> jdk10: "As of today these forests are open for bug fixes and small enhancements"       [3]
>
> Distros in general will repackage (update) OpenJDK following the CPU cycles [4].
> The next CPU release is on 18 April. If a change is already in jdk8u when
> repackaging due to the CPU release occurs, then distros can - under request -
> take the change into the new updated OpenJDK 8 package.
>
> But to get a change into jdk8u I need to get it first into 10, then request
> backport to 9, and finally request a backport to 8u. However, jdk9 passed the
> Rampdown Phase 2, so the change can't get into 9 and hence can't get into jdk8u
> by now. So it looks like jdk9 current status is blocking the path to jdk8u.

I raised this recently in relation to a RFE that was being backported to 
8u and thus could not now go into 9:

http://mail.openjdk.java.net/pipermail/jdk8u-dev/2017-March/006486.html

The "conclusion" was that this would be re-examined as the need arose. 
So if you have need ...

> If the change (bug fix or enhancement) is PPC64-only (let's say a change in the
> ppc.ad file), is it possible to get it into 8u before 18 April (next CPU release)
> somehow? If not, what are the options? Is it necessary to wait 9 GA and so jdk9u?

I don't know how you handle producing eg PPC64 builds to match a given 
CPU release. I would have presumed you would simply wait till the CPU 
changes are pushed to jdk8u-dev and then produce a build containing all 
CPU fixes along with any other fixes already accumulating in 8u-dev ?

David
-----

> Thank you very much.
>
> Best regards,
> Gustavo
>
> [1] http://openjdk.java.net/projects/jdk8u/
> [2] http://openjdk.java.net/projects/jdk9/
> [3] http://mail.openjdk.java.net/pipermail/jdk10-dev/2017-January/000041.html
> [4] http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/es/topics/security/alerts-086861.html
>