Stream: Virtual Room 9
Time: 15:00 - 15:45
Java on z/OS has advanced significantly in recent releases, and staying current is essential for performance, security, and modernization. This session walks through the key capabilities and improvements in IBM Semeru Runtime Certified Edition for z/OS versions 21 and 25, highlighting the real‑world benefits clients are seeing with these newer levels. We’ll cover major runtime, performance, and security enhancements; what’s new in the language, JVM, and tooling; and the resources that help make planning and executing an upgrade straightforward. Whether you’re modernizing applications, improving operational efficiency, or preparing for future Java releases, this session shows how adopting the latest Java levels delivers meaningful value on IBM Z.
Thaksena is a Senior Manager for the Java on IBM Z Team and manages development and client engagement initiatives. She is based in Toronto, Canada.
James has responsibilities for Java, Open Enterprise Languages, DevOps, and AI development on IBM Z. He is based in Markham, Canada and has been with IBM for over 25 years.
Danja Papajani is a software engineer working on the IBM Semeru Runtime Certified Edition for z/OS, where she helps bring modern Java releases to enterprise systems on IBM Z. Her work focuses on building and maintaining the Java platform across OpenJDK and OpenJ9, including contributing to the adoption of Java 25. She has been involved in modernizing toolchains, improving build reliability, and navigating platform-specific challenges.
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