Should I always compile Java code with latest javac compiler?

Question

I\'m about to upgrade a tomcat installation from version 6.0 to version 8.5, and also upgrading the JVM from 6 to 8. Our java code is compiled with java 6 as for now.

I

Answer 1

As you already know, there is no real requirement for compiling Java code with the latest versions of the language. It is up to you.

Common points to consider:

• Compatibility issues with dependency libraries and frameworks
• Compatibility issues/unsupported binary versions on the target JVM versions
• Known performance (or other improvements) in the newer Java versions.
• Backward compatibility - code compiled with newer Java (e.g. 8) might not always be able to execute on older JVM (e.g. 6).

I would (and I encourage you) to check the release notes to see what changes, improvements, compatibility constraints etc. are introduced in the new JVM version.