JavaStandard

JavaStandard is a proposed formal standard intended to unify core Java language features, runtime semantics, and standard libraries for Java-compatible platforms. It aims to provide a stable baseline that enables predictable cross-implementation portability and compatibility across different Java runtimes and toolchains.

Scope includes language grammar, bytecode semantics, JVM behavior, the standard API set (java.lang, java.util, java.io, java.net, and similar), the module system, memory model, concurrency, security, and deployment characteristics. It excludes platform-specific extensions and vendor-specific enhancements unless included in a defined extension API. The standard would also address compatibility guarantees, deprecation policies, and upgrade paths between versions.

Conformance: Implementations may seek JavaStandard conformance by passing a defined test suite; conformance marks would indicate compatibility with the standard across platforms. A separate runtime compliance specification could accompany the core standard to cover implementation details such as packaging, class loading, and tooling expectations.

Governance: The standard would be developed via a formal process modeled after existing Java Community Process or ISO-driven mechanisms; it would be managed by a standards body, with public drafts, broad review, and periodic updates. Versioning would align with a regular release cadence to reflect language and library evolutions while maintaining backward compatibility obligations.

Relationship: JavaStandard would interact with Java SE, Jakarta EE, and other Java Platform families. It could serve as an official baseline for core language and library behavior while allowing federation with platform-specific extensions. Compatibility with existing bytecode and class libraries would be central to its design and assessment.

Reception: Proponents argue that JavaStandard would improve portability, reliability, and interoperability across Java implementations, while critics express concerns about potential slow evolution and the risk of fragmentation if conformance is unevenly enforced.