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VisualVM
What it is
VisualVM is a free standalone tool for troubleshooting Java applications in development and production. It brings JDK command-line tools together with lightweight profiling. Its monitoring covers CPU use, garbage collection, heap and metaspace memory, loaded classes and running threads. Sampling and instrumentation profilers help examine performance and memory use.
For diagnostics, VisualVM can capture thread dumps, browse heap dumps, analyze core dumps and save application data for offline review. It can list remote Java applications when jstatd is running on the remote host, or connect manually through JMX. Official and third-party plugins extend the tool, installed through its Plugins Center or from downloaded files for offline use. A Security plugin provides a GUI for SSL/TLS keystores, truststores, protocols and ciphers. The site documents integrations or launchers for Eclipse, IntelliJ IDEA and Visual Studio Code, plus a third-party NetBeans profiler. VisualVM runs on Windows, Linux and macOS. Its download page lists Oracle JDK and OpenJDK versions 8–26 and GraalVM versions 19–JDK 26; it notes that VisualVM should run using Oracle JDK 8 or newer.
For and against
For
- Monitors CPU, garbage collection, memory and threads
- Includes sampling and instrumentation profilers
- Captures thread dumps and analyzes heap and core dumps
- Can save application data for offline analysis
- Runs on Windows, Linux and macOS
Against
- Some third-party plugins may not work after changes in VisualVM 2.0
- Remote application listing requires jstatd on the remote host
The verdict
VisualVM combines Java monitoring, profiling and diagnostic tools in a free standalone application. Users relying on plugins should note the warning about some third-party plugins after VisualVM 2.0 changes.
Who it suits
VisualVM is intended for application developers, system administrators, quality engineers and end users working with Java applications. Its profiling, monitoring and dump-analysis tools support troubleshooting in development and production.
Plans and prices
VisualVM
Standalone Java troubleshooting tool · Windows, Linux, macOS · Java 8–26
Read 29 Sep 2026 · visualvm.github.io
On the record
- Audience
- The site says VisualVM is designed for application developers, system administrators, quality engineers, and end users.visualvm.github.io · read 29 Sep 2026
- Compatibility limit
- The download page lists Oracle JDK 8–26, OpenJDK 8–26, and GraalVM 19–JDK 26, and notes that VisualVM should run using Oracle JDK 8 or newer.visualvm.github.io · read 29 Sep 2026
- Diagnostics
- It can capture thread dumps, browse heap dumps, analyze core dumps, and save application data for offline analysis.visualvm.github.io · read 29 Sep 2026
- Distribution
- VisualVM is currently distributed as a standalone tool, with a ZIP archive and a macOS application bundle linked from the download page.visualvm.github.io · read 29 Sep 2026
- Integrations
- The site documents integrations or launchers for Eclipse, IntelliJ IDEA, Visual Studio Code, and a third-party NetBeans profiler.visualvm.github.io · read 29 Sep 2026
- License and maker
- The project is copyright Oracle Corporation and/or its affiliates and is released under GPLv2 with the Classpath Exception.visualvm.github.io · read 29 Sep 2026
- Monitoring
- It monitors CPU usage, garbage collection, heap and metaspace memory, loaded classes, and running threads.visualvm.github.io · read 29 Sep 2026
- Plugin limit
- The site warns that some third-party plugins may not work because of changes introduced in VisualVM 2.0.visualvm.github.io · read 29 Sep 2026
- Plugins
- Official and third-party plugins extend VisualVM, with installation through its Plugins Center or from downloaded plugin files for offline use.visualvm.github.io · read 29 Sep 2026
- Profiling
- It provides sampling and instrumentation profilers for analyzing application performance and memory use.visualvm.github.io · read 29 Sep 2026
- Purpose
- VisualVM integrates command line JDK tools with lightweight profiling for Java application troubleshooting in development and production.visualvm.github.io · read 29 Sep 2026
- Remote processes
- VisualVM can list remote Java applications when jstatd runs on the remote host, or connect to applications manually by JMX.visualvm.github.io · read 29 Sep 2026
- Security
- A Security plugin provides a GUI for configuring keystores, truststores, protocols, and ciphers for SSL/TLS connections.visualvm.github.io · read 29 Sep 2026
- Support
- Users can contact developers and the community through Gitter, send private feedback by email, or report bugs through the linked issue tracker.visualvm.github.io · read 29 Sep 2026
