Download the Java EE Reference platform

To download the Java EE Reference Platform from Oracle, follow these steps:

1. Access the Java EE 8 SDK Downloads Page: Navigate to Oracle's official Java EE 8 SDK Downloads page.
2. Select the Appropriate Installer: On the downloads page, you'll find the "Universal zip Installer" for Java EE 8 SDK. This installer is compatible with various platforms. The file size is approximately 135 MB.
3. Download the Installer: Click on the download link to start the download process. You may be prompted to accept Oracle's license agreement and, if you don't have one, create an Oracle account to proceed with the download.
4. Install the SDK: After downloading, extract the contents of the ZIP file to your desired directory. Ensure that you have JDK 8 Update 144 or higher installed on your system, as it's required for the Java EE 8 SDK. Set the JAVA_HOME environment variable to point to your JDK installation directory. For detailed installation instructions, refer to Oracle's Java EE 8 SDK Installation Instructions.

Please note that Oracle has transitioned the stewardship of Java EE to the Eclipse Foundation, where it is now known as Jakarta EE. For the latest versions and updates, you may also consider exploring Jakarta EE resources.

The nomenclature Java EE (Java Platform, Enterprise Edition) was officially supported by Oracle as a continuation of the legacy technology previously known as J2EE (Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition). However, Oracle has transitioned the stewardship of Java EE to the Eclipse Foundation, where it is now known as Jakarta EE.
Key Points:

1. Java EE as the Continuation of J2EE
   • J2EE to Java EE: The transition from J2EE to Java EE occurred with Java EE 5 in 2006, when the "Java 2" naming convention was dropped. This rebranding reflected updates and improvements to the platform, marking a modernization of the technology stack.
   • Improvements: Java EE introduced significant simplifications, annotations, and other features to address criticisms of J2EE being overly complex.
2. Oracle's Role
   • Oracle supported and developed Java EE after acquiring Sun Microsystems in 2010.
   • Oracle continued to release updates and new versions of Java EE, including Java EE 8, which was released in 2017.
3. Transition to Jakarta EE
   • In 2017, Oracle transferred Java EE to the Eclipse Foundation to encourage more open and collaborative development.
   • The platform was renamed Jakarta EE because Oracle retained the rights to the "Java" and "Java EE" trademarks.
4. Jakarta EE as the Successor
   • Jakarta EE is the official continuation of Java EE.
   • It builds on the Java EE legacy, introducing modernizations such as cloud-native support, microservices capabilities, and compatibility with evolving Java SE versions.

Key Differences Between J2EE, Java EE, and Jakarta EE:

Aspect	J2EE	Java EE	Jakarta EE
Time Period	Pre-2006	2006 - 2017	2018 - present
Naming Rights	Sun Microsystems	Oracle	Eclipse Foundation
Focus	Foundational platform	Simplification and modern APIs	Cloud-native, microservices
Trademark Owner	Sun Microsystems | Oracle	Oracle	Eclipse Foundation

Summary:

• Java EE represents the continuation of J2EE under Oracle's stewardship.
• The legacy of Java EE is carried forward as Jakarta EE, now developed under the Eclipse Foundation. While Oracle no longer supports the "Java EE" nomenclature in new developments, it remains historically significant as part of the platform's evolution.

In the exercise that follows, you will download the reference implementation from the JavaSoft Web site. Download Java EE Reference Platform - Exercise
In the next lesson, you will configure the software you just downloaded.