Stay Updated with Apache Tomcat Server: Latest Releases and News

Apache Tomcat is a widely-used open-source implementation of Jakarta Servlet, Jakarta Pages, Jakarta Expression Language, Jakarta WebSocket, Jakarta Annotations, and Jakarta Authentication specifications. These specifications form the foundation of the Jakarta EE platform, the evolution of Java EE. For those relying on a robust and flexible web server, keeping abreast of the latest updates for your Tomcat Server is crucial. This article provides you with the most recent announcements and releases from the Apache Tomcat project, ensuring you have the information you need to maintain and optimize your server environment.

Recent Apache Tomcat Server Releases

Here’s a rundown of the latest releases from the Apache Tomcat project, highlighting key updates and changes:

Apache Tomcat 10.1.36 Released (February 18, 2025)

The Apache Tomcat Project proudly announced the release of version 10.1.36. This version is a key update for users leveraging the Jakarta EE 10 platform. It’s important to note that applications designed for Tomcat 9 or earlier require modifications to run on Tomcat 10 and later due to the shift from Java EE to Jakarta EE specifications.

A significant enhancement in this release includes:

• Fix for InaccessibleObjectException (Issue 69576): This addresses an issue where embedded users were required to add an additional --add-opens command, streamlining the user experience for embedded Tomcat deployments.
• JSON Formatter for JULI: The addition of a JSON formatter to JULI (Java Utility Logging Implementation) enhances logging capabilities and makes it easier to integrate Tomcat logs with systems that consume JSON data.

For comprehensive details on all changes, refer to the Tomcat 10.1 changelog.

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Apache Tomcat 9.0.100 Released (February 17, 2025)

Version 9.0.100 of Apache Tomcat was released, implementing specifications under the Java EE 8 platform. This release focuses on stability and addresses a regression introduced in the previous version.

Key changes include:

• Regression Fix and InaccessibleObjectException Catch: Addressing a regression from version 9.0.99, this release also incorporates a catch for InaccessibleObjectException. This prevents embedded Tomcat users from needing to add the --add-opens argument, improving ease of use.

For a complete overview of changes, consult the Tomcat 9 changelog.

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Apache Tomcat 11.0.4 Released (February 17, 2025)

The release of Apache Tomcat 11.0.4 marks another step forward for the tomcat server, incorporating the Jakarta EE 11 platform specifications. Users migrating from older versions should be particularly aware of the namespace change from javax.* to jakarta.*, a result of the transition from Java EE to Jakarta EE under the Eclipse Foundation. This namespace change necessitates code modifications for applications moving from Tomcat 9 and older to Tomcat 10 and newer. The migration tool is available to assist with this transition.

The notable change in this version is:

• Regression Fix and InaccessibleObjectException Catch: Similar to versions 10.1.36 and 9.0.100, this release rectifies a regression from version 11.0.3 and includes a catch for InaccessibleObjectException, simplifying the configuration for embedded Tomcat users.

Detailed information on all modifications can be found in the Tomcat 11 changelog.

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Apache Tomcat Migration Tool for Jakarta EE 1.0.9 Released (January 21, 2025)

The Apache Tomcat Migration Tool for Jakarta EE reached version 1.0.9, offering improvements and bug fixes for those transitioning applications to Jakarta EE. This tool is essential for users upgrading their tomcat server applications from older Java EE environments.

Key updates in this release are:

• Fix for matchExcludesAgainstPathName: Resolved an issue where matchExcludesAgainstPathName was not functioning correctly for files, based on a contribution by Semiao Marco.
• SERVLET Migration Profile: Introduced a new migration profile, SERVLET, which specifically migrates the javax.servlet package and its sub-packages, provided by Ralf Wiebicke. This allows for more targeted migration efforts.
• Dependency Updates: General updates to dependencies ensure compatibility and incorporate the latest improvements from underlying libraries.

For complete release notes, see the changelog.

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Apache Tomcat Connectors 1.2.50 Released (August 12, 2024)

Version 1.2.50 of Apache Tomcat Connectors was released, focusing on bug fixes to enhance the stability and reliability of tomcat server connections. Tomcat Connectors enable Apache HTTP Server to proxy requests to Apache Tomcat.

Download | ChangeLog for 1.2.50

Apache Tomcat Native 2.0.8 and 1.3.1 Released (July 24, 2024)

Two new versions of Tomcat Native were released: 2.0.8 and 1.3.1. Tomcat Native provides performance improvements by using native libraries for certain operations within the tomcat server, particularly SSL/TLS handling.

Notable changes in both versions include:

• Crash Fix on Windows: Addressed a crash issue on Windows systems that occurred when SSLContext.setCACertificate() was invoked with a null caCertificateFile value and a non-null caCertificatePath.
• OpenSSL 3.0.14 on Windows: Windows binaries in these releases are built with OpenSSL 3.0.14, bringing the latest security and performance enhancements from OpenSSL.

Download | Change log for 2.0.8 | Change log for 1.3.1

Apache Standard Taglib 1.2.5 Released (March 17, 2015)

Version 1.2.5 of the Standard Taglib was released. This tag library provides Apache’s implementation of the JSTL 1.2 specification for tomcat server environments.

Key changes in this bug fix release include:

• Reverted HTTP Method Change: Reverted a change from version 1.2.1 that modified the HTTP method during POST operations.
• AccessControlException Fix: Resolved an issue causing an AccessControlException during startup unless permission was granted to read the accessExternalEntity property.

For more details, refer to the Taglibs section.

Download | Changes

Apache Tomcat Maven Plugin 2.2 Released (November 11, 2013)

The Apache Tomcat Maven Plugin reached version 2.2. This plugin simplifies the deployment and management of WAR projects within a tomcat server using Maven.

Changelog

The Apache Tomcat Maven Plugin offers goals for manipulating WAR projects within the Apache Tomcat servlet container.

Maven repositories provide the binaries. Specify the version in your project’s plugin configuration like so:

<plugin>
  <groupId>org.apache.tomcat.maven</groupId>
  <artifactId>tomcat7-maven-plugin</artifactId>
  <version>2.2</version>
</plugin>

or

<plugin>
  <groupId>org.apache.tomcat.maven</groupId>
  <artifactId>tomcat6-maven-plugin</artifactId>
  <version>2.2</version>
</plugin>

Staying Up-to-Date

Keeping your tomcat server updated is essential for performance, security, and access to the latest features. Regularly checking the Apache Tomcat project website and release announcements ensures you are running the most stable and secure version of Tomcat, and allows you to take advantage of new functionalities and bug fixes. For older announcements, you can refer to the former announcements.