Staying up-to-date with the latest technologies is key to ensuring optimal performance, security, and compliance in the dynamic software development landscape. MuleSoft is taking a significant step forward by aligning with Java’s Long-Term Support (LTS) release cadence. This transition begins with Mule runtime 4.6, now fully supporting Java 17 LTS.
Upgrading to Mule 4.6
With many third-party vendors discontinuing support for Java 8, MuleSoft’s decision to adopt the latest Java LTS release cadence reflects a commitment to keeping pace with industry trends. This move promises greater security, compliance, and performance for users of the MuleSoft product stack.
Here at MuleSoft, we understand the degree of planning and effort required to implement such upgrades and that’s why we’re committed to making the transition to the recently released Mule 4.6 runtime, and the subsequent upgrade from Java 7 or 11 to Java 17, as smooth as possible.
By embracing the latest Java LTS release cadence and upgrading to Mule runtime 4.6 or later, you’re not just future-proofing your integration ecosystem, you’re unlocking its full potential. Stay ahead of the curve and maximize the benefits of your MuleSoft investment.
Java 17 upgrade
To that end, we’ve compiled a Java 17 upgrade FAQ and we’ve also created a Java 17 upgrade trailhead that lets you speak directly to the Mule Runtime technical team.
We also hosted a community session, Deploy Your Mule! Mule Runtime 4.6 and Upgrading to Java 17, and if you couldn’t attend in person, you can watch the recording of the session from April 16, 2024.
We understand that connectors and policies play a significant role in your upgrade journey, so we’ve also created two playbooks: the Connector Upgrade playbook and Mule Gateway Policy and Proxy Migration guide. Expect a fully-fledged application upgrade guide in the near future.
Our fantastic MuleSoft community is also playing a part in making this upgrade process as smooth as possible, including an article by Community member Rajesh Kumar, outlining tips and best practices for upgrading from Mule 4.4 to 4.6.
Software upgrades won’t ever receive first place on any developer’s “favorite things to do” list, but an undeniably critical part of maintaining technical infrastructure when transitioning your platform to the latest version realizes years worth of security, performance and support improvements, and we’re striving to make this process as simple as possible.
Don’t delay – upgrade today!
Reminder: If you’re currently running Mule applications on supported versions, there’s no immediate impact. Your Java 8 apps will continue to function as usual until February 2025. However, it’s crucial to plan your upgrade path, as standard support for Java 8 and 11 is planned to end with the release of Mule runtime 4.9 in February 2025.
