Jactl brings virtual threads to Java 8 without Project Loom

The Jactl scripting language introduces virtual thread support for Java 8, bypassing the need for Project Loom.

Open Source & Tooling Reported release / significance 2

Briefing

Hacker News: The Jactl scripting language introduces virtual thread support for Java 8, bypassing the need for Project Loom.

Why it matters

This allows developers stuck on older Java versions to leverage lightweight concurrency, potentially improving performance for I/O-bound tasks in scripting environments. It also demonstrates that virtual thread-like functionality can be retrofitted without waiting for official JVM updates.

Sources

Reported · Hacker News · 2026-09-01 — Virtual Threads for a scripting language in Java 8 without Loom

Watch next

Will this approach gain adoption among Java 8 users, or will Project Loom's official support make it obsolete?

Topics: Jactl, Project Loom, virtual-threads, java-8, scripting-language, concurrency