Step-by-Step Migration Plan from Java EE to Jakarta EE on Liferay DXP

The transition from Java EE to Jakarta EE is more than a simple namespace change and it’s a modernization journey that ensures your Liferay applications stay compatible, secure, and future-ready. With Liferay DXP 7.4 and newer versions officially adopting Jakarta EE, organizations running custom modules or legacy Java EE code must prepare a structured migration plan. Below is a step-by-step guide to make the process smoother and more efficient.

1. Assess Your Current Environment

Start with a comprehensive audit of your Liferay installation:

• Identify modules, portlets, and custom applications still dependent on javax.* packages.

• Review third-party libraries and frameworks for compatibility with Jakarta EE.

• Document build tools, dependencies, and server configurations.

This assessment will serve as the foundation for estimating the migration scope and complexity.

2. Understand the Namespace Change

The most significant change when moving to Jakarta EE is the shift from:

javax.*  →  jakarta.*

This affects imports, annotations, and API references. While it may sound like a search-and-replace job, it often impacts class hierarchies, deployment descriptors, and integration points, so caution is required.

3. Update Build Configurations

Whether you use Maven or Gradle, update your build scripts to pull Jakarta EE dependencies instead of Java EE ones. Key steps include:

• Replace Java EE dependencies with their Jakarta EE equivalents.

• Ensure plugins and profiles are compatible with the updated APIs.

• Align Liferay Gradle/Maven configurations with Jakarta EE libraries.

4. Refactor Codebase

Use IDE tools or migration utilities to perform automated refactoring where possible. For large projects, manual intervention will still be necessary to fix:

• javax.* → jakarta.* imports.

• Custom annotations and security roles.

• JNDI lookups, persistence units, and configuration files.

Eclipse Transformer and other migration utilities can speed up this process.

5. Validate Third-Party Libraries

Not all libraries are Jakarta EE ready. Pay close attention to:

• Dependencies locked on older versions.

• Security frameworks, JSON parsers, and persistence providers.

• Liferay Marketplace apps—check if updates are available from vendors.

If no Jakarta-compatible version exists, consider alternatives or temporary compatibility layers.

6. Test Thoroughly

Migration isn’t complete until testing validates stability. Run:

• Unit tests and integration tests.

• Regression tests for Liferay modules and hooks.

• Performance benchmarking to compare pre- and post-migration performance.

Testing ensures your system is not only functional but also optimized.

7. Deploy Incrementally

Avoid the “big bang” approach—roll out changes gradually:

• Deploy migrated modules in a staging environment first.

• Run UAT (User Acceptance Testing) with real data.

• Monitor logs, security vulnerabilities, and API calls closely.

This phased approach reduces risks and ensures smoother adoption.

8. Optimize and Modernize

Migration is a great opportunity to adopt new Jakarta EE features and clean up technical debt. Consider:

• Replacing deprecated APIs with modern alternatives.

• Leveraging Jakarta RESTful Web Services or Jakarta Security.

• Improving modularity and cloud-readiness of your Liferay applications.

Conclusion

Migrating from Java EE to Jakarta EE in Liferay DXP is not just a compliance requirement—it’s a strategic move toward a more secure, performant, and future-proof platform. With a structured approach covering assessment, refactoring, validation, and optimization, businesses can ensure minimal disruption while unlocking the benefits of Jakarta EE.

At Surekha Technologies, we specialize in enterprise-grade Liferay solutions, including seamless Java EE to Jakarta EE migrations. Our experts follow a proven methodology to assess your environment, refactor code, resolve compatibility challenges, and optimize your system for long-term success. Whether you need a complete migration or targeted consulting, we ensure your Liferay DXP applications remain future-ready and business-aligned.