Oracle GraalVM

Oracle GraalVM compiles your Java applications ahead of time into standalone binaries. These binaries are smaller, start up to 100x faster, provide peak performance with no warmup, and use less memory and CPU than applications running on a Java Virtual Machine (JVM).

GraalVM reduces the attack surface of your application. It excludes unused classes, methods and fields from the application binary. It restricts reflection and other dynamic Java language features to build time only. It does not load any unknown code at run time.

Popular microservices frameworks such as Spring Boot, Micronaut, Helidon, and Quarkus, and cloud platforms such as Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure all support GraalVM.

With profile-guided optimization and the G1 (Garbage-First) garbage collector, you can get lower latency and on-par or better peak performance and throughput compared to applications running on a Java Virtual Machine (JVM).

You can use the GraalVM JDK just like any other Java Development Kit in your IDE.

Key Benefits

Oracle GraalVM’s key benefits are:

• Low Resource Usage: Java applications compiled ahead-of-time by GraalVM require less memory and CPU to run. No memory and CPU cycles are spent on just-in-time compilation. As a result, your applications need fewer resources to run and are cheaper to operate at scale.
• Fast Startup: With GraalVM, you can start your Java applications faster by initializing parts of the application at build time instead of run time, and instantly achieve predictable peak performance with no warmup.
• Compact Packaging: Java applications compiled ahead-of-time by GraalVM are small and can be easily packaged into lightweight container images for fast and efficient deployment.
• Improved Security: GraalVM reduces the attack surface of your Java application by excluding the following from the binary: unreachable code (unused classes, methods, and fields), the just-in-time compilation infrastructure, and build-time initialized code. GraalVM’s closed world assumption prevents your application from loading unknown code by disabling dynamic features such as reflection, serialization, and so on at run time, and requires an explicit include list of such classes, methods, and fields at build time. GraalVM can embed a software bill of materials (SBOM) in your binary making it easier for you to use common security scanners to check your Java application binaries for published CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures).
• Easily Build Cloud Native Microservices: Popular microservices frameworks such as Spring Boot, Micronaut, Helidon, and Quarkus, and cloud platforms such as Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Microsoft Azure all support GraalVM. This makes it easy for you to build cloud native Java microservices, compiled as binaries, packaged in small containers, and run on cloud platforms - OCI, AWS, GCP and Azure.
• Extend your Java Application with Python and Other Languages: With GraalVM you can embed languages such as Python, JavaScript, and others to extend your Java application.
• Use Existing Development and Monitoring Tools: Your existing Java application development and monitoring tools work with GraalVM application binaries. GraalVM provides build plugins for Maven and Gradle, and GitHub Actions for CI/CD. GraalVM supports Java Flight Recorder (JFR), Java Management Extensions (JMX), heap dumps, VisualVM, and other monitoring tools. GraalVM works with existing Java editors/IDEs, and unit test frameworks such as JUnit.

What to Read Next

Start with installing Oracle GraalVM by following the installation guide.

Whether you are new to Oracle GraalVM and Native Image or have little experience using it, continue to Getting Started.

Developers who already have Oracle GraalVM installed, or have experience using it, should proceed to the Reference Manuals for in-depth coverage.