Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Microsoft OpenJDK VS Zulu

Compare Microsoft OpenJDK VS Zulu and see what are their differences

Microsoft OpenJDK logo Microsoft OpenJDK

The Microsoft Build of OpenJDK is a new no-cost long-term supported distribution and Microsoft’s new way to collaborate and contribute to the Java ecosystem.

Zulu logo Zulu

Zulu is a professional DJ mixing software to mix and broadcast live music, audio and mp3s.
  • Microsoft OpenJDK Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-26
  • Zulu Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-23

Microsoft OpenJDK features and specs

  • Free and Open Source
    Microsoft OpenJDK is available for free and is open source, allowing developers to access and modify the source code to suit their needs without any licensing costs.
  • Cross-platform Support
    Microsoft OpenJDK is designed to run on multiple platforms, including Windows, Linux, and macOS, providing flexibility for development on various operating systems.
  • Long-term Support
    Microsoft provides long-term support for their OpenJDK builds, offering security updates and stability improvements over an extended period, ensuring reliable operation in production environments.
  • Integration with Azure
    The OpenJDK distribution is well-integrated with Microsoft's Azure cloud platform, offering robust support for Java applications in cloud environments, including features like seamless deployment and scalability.
  • Active Contributions
    Microsoft actively contributes to the OpenJDK project, helping to improve the overall ecosystem and ensuring that their distribution is up-to-date with the latest Java developments.

Possible disadvantages of Microsoft OpenJDK

  • Limited Differentiation
    Microsoft OpenJDK does not significantly differ from other OpenJDK distributions, which might limit its appeal for developers looking for unique features or optimizations.
  • Dependency on Microsoft Ecosystem
    While integration with Azure is a pro, it can also be a con for developers not using Azure services, as they might not fully leverage the cloud-specific optimizations and integrations offered by Microsoft.
  • Potential Compatibility Issues
    As with any OpenJDK distribution, there may be compatibility issues when migrating applications from other Java distributions, requiring thorough testing and adjustments.

Zulu features and specs

  • Wide Platform Support
    Zulu offers binaries for a wide range of platforms, including Windows, Linux, and macOS, which makes it versatile for developers working in different environments.
  • Open Source
    Zulu is based on OpenJDK, which is open source. This provides transparency, the ability to inspect the codebase, and the potential for community-driven improvements.
  • Compliance Certification
    Zulu is TCK-tested and certified as compliant with the Java SE standard, ensuring reliable performance and compatibility with Java applications.
  • Commercial Support
    Azul offers commercial support and additional services for Zulu, which can be beneficial for businesses seeking professional backing and long-term reliability.
  • Regular Updates
    Zulu provides regular updates and timely security patches, helping developers maintain up-to-date and secure Java installations.

Possible disadvantages of Zulu

  • Complex Licensing Options
    While Zulu is open source, understanding and navigating the various licensing options for commercial services might be complex for some users.
  • Dependency on Azul's Ecosystem
    Leveraging additional features and tooling often ties users into Azul's ecosystem, which may not be ideal for those seeking completely independent solutions.
  • Potential Overhead for Small Projects
    For very small projects or startups, the commercial support and additional features might be more than what is needed, leading to unnecessary overhead.
  • Java Version Compatibility
    While Zulu supports many platforms, users need to ensure compatibility with specific Java versions required by their applications, which can occasionally be an issue.

Microsoft OpenJDK videos

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Zulu videos

History Buffs: Zulu

More videos:

  • Review - Zulu Review (1964) Classic Film | Michael Caine | Stanley Baker
  • Review - Zulu (1964) Review Retrospective

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Microsoft OpenJDK and Zulu)
IDE
48 48%
52% 52
Software Development
48 48%
52% 52
Text Editors
48 48%
52% 52
Developer Tools
50 50%
50% 50

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Zulu seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1 time since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Microsoft OpenJDK mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Microsoft OpenJDK yet. Tracking of Microsoft OpenJDK recommendations started around Sep 2022.

Zulu mentions (1)

  • minecraft crashing with exit code 0
    From what I saw in Crash Logs on here and in other places that have to do with Java, many people seem to use Azul's Zulu OpenJDK, so you could also try installing that instead of the Microsoft Build (make sure to uninstall that first). Source: almost 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Microsoft OpenJDK and Zulu, you can also consider the following products

OpenJDK - OpenJDK is the free version of the Java development platform.

Liberica JDK - Liberica is a 100% open-source Java 13.0.1 implementation.

RedHat OpenJDK - The RedHat build of OpenJDK

AdoptOpenJDK - The code for Java is open source and available at OpenJDKâ„¢.

Amazon Corretto - Amazon Corretto is a no-cost, multiplatform, production-ready distribution of the Open Java Development Kit (OpenJDK).

VS Code - Build and debug modern web and cloud applications, by Microsoft