Java 21 has been released as the latest LTS update, bringing several language and JVM enhancements. Key highlights include refinements to sealed interfaces, pattern matching for switch statements, and the preview of the Foreign Function & Memory API, which aims to simplify native interop. Additionally, the runtime introduces improved garbage collector tuning defaults and a new default DNS resolver. These changes are expected to streamline codebases and reduce boilerplate for many developers. I'm curious how the community plans to adopt the pattern matching features in existing projects and whether the Foreign Memory API will replace older JNI approaches. What are your thoughts on the practical impact of Java 21 for everyday development?
Java 21 Release Highlights: New Features and Community Impact
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Could anyone show a concrete example of how the new pattern-matching for switch reduces boilerplate compared to the classic switch, and what steps are needed to migrate an existing codebase? Also, is the preview foreign memory API already usable enough to replace simple JNI calls in practice?