Title: Unicode.next support
Author: Yuka Kamiya
Organization: Oracle
Created: 2014/1/22
Type: Feature
State: Draft
Exposure: Open
Component: core/i18n
Scope: JDK
RFE: 8032446
Discussion: i18n dash dev at openjdk dot java dot net
Start: 2014/Q3
Effort: M
Duration: L


Summary
-------

Extend existing platform APIs to support the latest version of the [Unicode
Standard][us]. [Unicode 7.0][u70] scheduled in 2014 is the tentative target version.


Goals
-----

Support the latest Unicode mainly in the following classes:
  - `java.lang.Character` and `String`
  - `java.text.Bidi`, `BreakIterator`, and `Normalizer`


Non-Goals
---------

Two related Unicode specifications aren't covered in this JEP.
  - UTS #10, Unicode Collation Algorithm
  - UTS #46, Unicode IDNA Compatibility Processing


Motivation
----------

Unicode is an industry standard, and it's necessary for Java to support the
latest version of Unicode to be the platform of choice.

One of features in [Unicode 6.3][u63] is bidirectional behavior improvement which
enables better text display in languages like Arabic and Hebrew. And, about
three thousands characters and over twenty scripts will be added to [Unicode 7.0][u70].


Description
-----------

JDK 8 supports [Unicode 6.2][u62]. [Unicode 6.3][u63] is the latest version of the
[Unicode Standard][us] as of today, and [Unicode 7.0][u70] is schedule for June, 2014.
JDK 9 should support the latest version of Unicode in its time frame.


Testing
-------

Need to verify that the latest Unicode data is correctly used by classes such as
`java.lang.Character`, `java.lang.String` and `java.text.BreakIterator`.


Risks and Assumptions
---------------------

If a version newer than 7.0 is released in the JDK 9 time frame then this JEP
will most likely be updated to specify that version.


Dependencies
------------

This feature depends on the [Unicode Standard][us] of the Unicode Consortium.


Impact
------

Possible changes to 3rd Party License file.




[us]: http://www.unicode.org/standard/standard.html
[u62]: http://www.unicode.org/versions/Unicode6.2.0/
[u63]: http://www.unicode.org/versions/Unicode6.3.0/
[u70]: http://www.unicode.org/versions/Unicode7.0.0/