Going Beyond Java 8: Create Custom Java Runtimes with jlink Although Java 8 is currently the most popular version of Java by developers everywhere, tools like jlink allow us to go beyond Java 8 and create custom runtimes. by Join the DZone community and get the full member experience.Join For Free According to some surveys such as that of JetBrains, version 8 of Java is currently the most used by developers all over the world, despite being a 2014 release. What you are reading is one in a series of articles titled “Going beyond Java 8”, inspired by the contents of my book “Java for Aliens”. These articles will guide the reader step-by-step to explore the most important features introduced starting from version 9. The aim is to make the reader aware of how important it is to move forward from Java 8, explaining the enormous advantages that the latest versions of the language offer.