Goodbye Payara Community 6, on to the next chapter with Payara Community 7

With the November 2025 release, Payara community reached an important milestone. Payara Platform Community 6 received its final update , marking the official end of community support for the 6.x line. At the same time, we introduced Payara Platform Community 7, a new generation of the platform built for Jakarta EE 11 and modern cloud native development.

See what this transition means and how it benefits Java and Jakarta EE developers today and long term.

The next chapter, Payara 7 with Jakarta EE 11

Jakarta EE 11 represents a major step forward for enterprise Java. Centering the community around Payara 7 allows developers like you gain access to a modern foundation that supports current standards, stronger security and a forward looking feature set.

Core features of Payara Platform Community 7 include:

• Compatibility with Jakarta EE 11, enabling modern APIs and a more streamlined programming model

• Updated integrations around MicroProfile 6.x

• Performance improvements and reduced legacy overhead

• A platform that aligns with where the Java ecosystem is heading instead of where it has been

A refreshed container experience with new Docker images

In case you missed it, the new Payara Platform Community 7 Docker images are now publicly available on Docker Hub, giving you easier access to container ready builds that run on updated JDK versions and the latest Jakarta EE specifications.

What the end of Payara Platform Community 6 means for you

Ending the Payara 6 community line was a carefully considered decision, driven by the realities of the evolving Java ecosystem and the need to maintain security and quality. For users, this change has clear implications:

• No further updates for Payara Platform Community 6

• No new community Docker images or patches for Payara Platform Community 6.x

• Community learning resources, examples and discussions will now focus on Jakarta EE 11 and Payara 7

• A simpler upgrade path because future community features will be built on a single, current codebase

It is important to highlight that version 6 is still available as part of the Payara Platform Enterprise Edition (get the trial here) for teams that need long term Jakarta EE 10 support, guaranteed patches and production ready support. This option ensures that organisations running mission critical workloads can continue to rely on Payara Platform Enterprise 6 while planning their upgrade path at a comfortable pace.

Why this transition is positive for the community

While some users may have ongoing projects running on Payara Platform Community 6, the overall shift is beneficial for the health and growth of the entire Payara community.

The net positive effects include:

• A unified focus on innovation instead of splitting effort across two major Community versions

• Stronger security because the platform moves in sync with modern JDK and Jakarta EE releases

• A clearer vision for contributors, extension authors and DevOps teams

• The ability to streamline documentation, examples and best practices

Payara Platform Community 7 gives the community a platform that is ready for the future. Instead of maintaining a legacy line, energy can go into advancing the platform in meaningful ways.

How to prepare for the upgrade

To ensure a smooth transition, project teams should begin evaluating their workloads on Payara 7. Typical next steps include:

• Reviewing application dependencies for Jakarta EE 11 compatibility

• Testing existing applications with the Payara 7 runtime

• Updating Dockerfiles and cluster manifests to use Payara 7 images

• Scheduling the full migration for upcoming sprints or release cycles

The earlier you begin testing, the easier the transition will be.

Looking ahead

The Payara community has always grown through collaboration, curiosity and a shared commitment to improving the platform. As we move forward with Payara Platform Community 7, community members and contributors remain at the heart of that progress. Your testing, ideas and feedback shape the direction of each release, and your contributions help keep the ecosystem strong.

We encourage everyone to get involved through GitHub, whether that means suggesting fixes, proposing improvements or sharing thoughts on future priorities. Roadmap planning benefits greatly from real world insight, and we welcome your participation!

Closing the Community 6 chapter and focusing our energy on Payara 7, we can work together to build a platform that stays modern, secure and ready for the next generation of enterprise applications. Your involvement makes that possible, and we are excited to continue the journey with you.

• Jakarta EE
• Java
• Payara

Dominika Tasarz

Author

Community Manager at Payara