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JEP 541: Deprecate the macOS/x64 Port for Removal

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Why This Matters

The deprecation of the macOS/x64 port reflects Apple's shift to AArch64 processors, signaling a move away from legacy architecture support in Java Development Kit (JDK). This change aims to reduce maintenance efforts and encourage developers to transition to newer architectures, aligning with industry hardware trends. Consumers and developers should prepare for potential future removal of this port, emphasizing the importance of adopting supported platforms.

Key Takeaways

Summary

Deprecate the macOS/x64 port, with the intent to remove it in a future release, in order to reduce maintenance costs.

Motivation

Apple has transitioned its hardware products to the AArch64 processor architecture and is phasing out support for x64. Oracle engineers will thus stop maintaining the macOS/x64 port as of JDK 27. Maintaining the port is a significant burden.

Description

An attempt to configure a macOS/x64 build will produce:

$ bash ./configure ... checking compilation type... native configure: error: The macOS/x64 port is deprecated and may be removed in a future release. Use --enable-deprecated-ports to suppress this error. configure exiting with result code 1 $

The new build-configuration option --enable-deprecated-ports will suppress the error and continue:

$ bash ./configure --enable-deprecated-ports ... checking compilation type... native configure: WARNING: The macOS/x64 port is deprecated and may be removed in a future release. ... Build performance summary: * Cores to use: 32 * Memory limit: 96601 MB The following warnings were produced. Repeated here for convenience: WARNING: The macOS/x64 port is deprecated and may be removed in a future release. $

There will be no guarantee that the port will build, much less function.

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