Hey all so as many of you know Selenium will stop supporting Java 8 starting on September 30, 2023. This means that we’re very near to this actually taking place and you may be wondering how is this going to affect you. Well, this is really only going to affect one group of people, those who are using Java 8, which I hope is not many of you.
It turns out that Java 8 is quite an old version and I’m surprised that Selenium has continued to support this version for this long.
Now what options do you have if you are on Java 8?
Well, you have two options:
- You can stay on Java 8 and continue to use an older version of Selenium
- Or upgrade to Java 11 or above. Notice that the minimum version that Selenium supports is Java 11. That doesn’t mean you have to be on Java 11, you can upgrade to 11 or 17, anything that it’s above the 11 version.
Upgrading to Java 11 Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- Performance and security: Newer versions of Java often come with performance improvements and security updates.
- Compatibility: Upgrading to a supported Java version ensures compatibility with the latest libraries, frameworks, and tools, including Selenium and other testing-related components.
- Language Features: Newer Java versions introduce new language features and APIs that can improve code readability, maintainability, and development speed.
- Long-term Support: Newer Java versions generally have longer support lifecycles, reducing the risk of using outdated and unsupported technology.
Cons:
- Code Changes: Upgrading Java may require updating and adapting your codebase to the new language features or addressing deprecated APIs.
- Learning curve: Developers who are familiar with older Java versions might need some time to learn and adapt to new language features and changes
- Time-consuming: Obvious will require some time to update to the newer version of Java and properly test it.
- Exposure to vulnerabilities: Just in case the older version of Selenium, a critical security issue is identified in the future you will be exposed to it and you will have to do it on fast hand to upgrade to the newer version.
Conclusion
I will not cover the Pros and Cons of the first option, to not upgrade, because it’s obvious. At the same time, I would highly recommend upgrading to the newer version and enjoying testing. 🙂