Does Google App Engine support Java 8?

Question

Trying to get started with Google App Engine - does it work with Java 8?

I\'ve followed the instructions on this page: https://console.developers.google.com/start/ap

Answer 1

Update: it is available in the "standard" (sandboxed) offering since mid 2017, https://cloud.google.com/blog/products/gcp/java-8-on-app-engine-standard-environment-is-now-generally-available

Before then, it was sort-of available, via Managed VMs. The idea is that you provide a Docker container with whatever software you need (like Java 8) and GAE will use that as your app instance VMs. You still get the autoscaling, monitoring and all that.

The disadvantage of Managed VMSs is that you are charged as for the Compute Engine VMs. That means you pay by minute and there is no free quota. There is the $300 credit for new user accounts for 60 days, but after that you'd have to pay.