JDK-8312216 : Deprecate for removal the -Xdebug option
  • Type: CSR
  • Component: hotspot
  • Sub-Component: runtime
  • Priority: P4
  • Status: Closed
  • Resolution: Withdrawn
  • Fix Versions: 22
  • Submitted: 2023-07-18
  • Updated: 2023-07-18
  • Resolved: 2023-07-18
Related Reports
CSR :  
Description
Summary
-------
`java` command's `-Xdebug` option will be deprecated for removal.

Problem
-------

java command allows the -Xdebug option to be specified. As noted in the documentation (dating as far back as Java 8), this option is only there for backward compatibility and currently does nothing https://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/technotes/tools/unix/java.html#BGBCIEFC

> -Xdebug
>
>    Does nothing. Provided for backward compatibility.

There are applications which currently pass this option when launching `java`. Most of these usages are of the form:

    -Xdebug -Xrunjdwp:transport=dt_socket,server=y,suspend=n,address=5005

These usages appear to be copy/pasted and are being used when launching `java` with debugging enabled. The use of `-Xdebug` plays no role in launching `java` in debug mode or any other functionality provided by `java`.

Solution
--------

`java` launcher will start printing a warning message if `-Xdebug` is passed. The warning message will state that the option is deprecated and will be removed in a future release:

    java -Xdebug -version
    OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM warning: Option -Xdebug was deprecated in JDK 22 and will likely be removed in a future release.
    ...

Specification
-------------

There are no specification changes.