Comparison_of_backporting_tools
Java backporting tools are programs (usually written in Java) that convert Java classes bytecodes from one version of the Java Platform to an older one (for example Java 5.0 backported to 1.4).
Main information
The JVM has evolved a lot for the past years. However, most language features that were added are simply a syntactic sugar. They do not require new byte-code, hence can be compiled to the Java 8. But, since the Java language was always bound to the JVM development, new language features require the same target as the JVM because they get released all together.[1]
More information Source version, Target version ...
| Source version | Target version | Last release | License | Website | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retrolambda | Java 8 | Java 7, 6, 5 | 2015-12-19, 2.1.0 | Apache License 2.0 | https://github.com/orfjackal/retrolambda |
| Retrotranslator | Java 5 | 2009-08-09, 1.2.9 | BSD-like | https://retrotranslator.sourceforge.net/ | |
| Retroweaver | Java 5 | 2008-10-14, 2.0.7 | BSD-like | https://retroweaver.sourceforge.net/ | |
| Declawer | Java 5 | Java 1.4 | 2007-11-14 | LGPL or MPL | https://www.glazedlists.com/Home/declawer |
| JBossRetro | Java 5 | Java 1.4 | 2008-03-10, 1.1.2 | LGPL | https://www.jboss.org/community/docs/DOC-10738 |
| Jabel | Java 9–14 | Java 1.8 | 2021-10-20, 0.4.2 | Apache License 2.0 | https://github.com/bsideup/jabel |
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Features
More information lambda expressions, default methods ...
| lambda expressions | default methods | generics | enhanced for loops | annotations | autoboxing and unboxing | static imports | varargs | enumerations | reflection on generics and annotations | covariant return types | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retrolambda | Yes | Yes | |||||||||
| Retrotranslator | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Retroweaver | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Declawer | No | No | Yes | ||||||||
| JBossRetro | No | No | |||||||||
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More information formatted output, formatted input ...
| formatted output | formatted input | collections framework enhancements | concurrency utilities | emulate the Java 5.0 memory model | support for JDK 1.6 File methods like canExecute() | API support for JDK 1.4 | API support for JDK 1.3 | API support for older release | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retrolambda | |||||||||
| Retrotranslator | Yes | No | Yes | Yes[2] | No | No | extensive | limited | none |
| Retroweaver | No | No | No | No | No | ||||
| Declawer | |||||||||
| JBossRetro | |||||||||
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- "Jabel – use modern Java 9–14 syntax when targeting Java 8". GitHub. 17 June 2022.
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