At INT, we support several versions of our popular developer toolkit, GeoToolkit, including JavaScript, Java, C++, and .NET. Our Java platform is perhaps a bit old, but it is certainly not dead. In fact, it is widely used in current desktop applications and server side as many cloud-based application backends rely on it.
A few years ago, we adopted a rapid release cycle for GeoToolkit Java, and since this change, the first Long-Term Support version (Java 11) was released in late 2018.
It is therefore natural that GeoToolkit Java follows the movement with its new release. Indeed, the 3.5 version is the first step of a new release cycle which will allow our users to base their applications on stable and up-to-date tools.
OpenJDK 11 Support
The release of Java 11 came with changes to the Oracle license terms. Fortunately, GeoToolkit Java is now compatible with OpenJDK 11, which ensures users the possibility to base their application on a freely available and up-to-date version of the Java platform.
OpenGL 3 Pipeline
GeoToolkit Java can use the OpenGL pipeline to speed up rendering. However, GeoToolkit 3.4 used the now deprecated version 2.1 of the OpenGL API. This meant that we couldn’t ensure the viability of this solution on a long-term basis, as some OpenGL implementations already lacked the 2.1 support (OSX, VMWare software implementation, etc.). As part of the new release, we prioritized an update to our OpenGL modules to use OpenGL 3 (and above), again providing a strong base for current and future applications for our customers.
For more information about GeoToolkit, visit our product page or request the latest version.
