Trouble starting jExifToolGUI

[RelentlessPickle]

• OS: Windows 10 [Version 10.0.19042.1415]
• jExifToolGUI Package: win exe without jre & jar (latest 16-Dec-2021)
• JRE: 1.8.0_311
• exiftool: 12.36

Regardless of which package I try to start, the app splash screen flashes by and oft-reported "JNI error" comes up, suggesting my Java version is not up-to-date enough. I'm not sure where the problem is, as I 'think' I am using the latest JRE. The cmd prompt provides the most information:

E:\Tools\jExif>java -version
java version "1.8.0_311"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_311-b11)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.311-b11, mixed mode)

E:\Tools\jExif>java -jar jExifToolGUI.jar &
Error: A JNI error has occurred, please check your installation and try again
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.UnsupportedClassVersionError: org/hvdw/jexiftoolgui/Application has been compiled by a more recent version of the Java Runtime (class file version 55.0), this version of the Java Runtime only recognizes class file versions up to 52.0
<snip>

My PATH variable:
Path=E:\Tools\msys64\usr\bin;C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.8.0_311\bin\;C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Oracle\Java\javapath;C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;C:\WINDOWS\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\;C:\Program Files\Hugin\bin;C:\Program Files (x86)\topcat;C:\Program Files (x86)\Plantronics\Spokes3G\;C:\WINDOWS\System32\OpenSSH\;C:\ProgramData\chocolatey\bin;C:\Users\tbransco\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps;E:\Tools\RawTherapee_dev_5.8-3046-g5268b94cf_W64_generic_210904;E:\Tools\exiftool;C:\Program Files\Hugin\bin;

My JAVAPATH variable (first suspect):
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.8.0_311\bin\

Any and all insights appreciated!
Thanks,

[hvdwolf]

You took the latest version. The releases page mentions clearly for the windows builds:

• jExifToolGUI-1.10.0-win-x86_64_with-jre.zip: A windows 64-bit executable including java V11. Unzip with paths!
• jExifToolGUI-1.10.0-win-x86_64.zip: A windows 32/64 bit executable without java. You need java 11 or newer installed on your system.

The version 1.9.0 dropped support for java version 8. It is too old and cumbersome and not supported anymore for many years. Please update your java version to 11 or higher.

[RelentlessPickle]

Mea culpa. Occasional user here, mystified by Java versioning. Thought by updating to latest JRE from control panel would install latest version. It's all working MUCH better in Java 17.0.1 :-) Thank you.

[Korb]

The version 1.9.0 dropped support for java version 8. It is too old and cumbersome and not supported anymore for many years. Please update your java version to 11 or higher.

Java Downloads for All Operating Systems
Recommended Version 8 Update 321
Release date: January 18, 2022

https://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp

The latest build of Java 8 came out a little over two months ago. There are no later downloads. Where to download the 11th version?

[hvdwolf]

It is mentioned on the release page: https://adoptopenjdk.net/releases.html

But if you search on "java jdk 11", you find multiple sites

[Korb]

java jdk 11 can be installed on the system at the same time as Java version 8 update 321?
Or before installing java jdk 11 should I uninstall Java downloaded from java.com?