Just tried it - there is no significant difference between Java 8 and 11! They both start around 6.5s (JVM running for 7.4s). Java 17 starts the app in approximately 5.9s (JVM running for 6.7s).

We did java 8 vs java 11 a few years ago: https://www.optaplanner.org/blog/2019/01/17/HowMuchFasterIsJ...

TLDR: using the same GC (*), it's 4% to 16% faster (depending on the GC).

But be warned that if you don't set a GC, Java 8 uses Parallel GC (high throughput, so faster) by default and Java 11 uses G1 GC (low latency, so less hickups) by default.