Java 8 should be the base language and platform level for the graphql-java library.

It has been stated that some people use Java 6 in a production sense and will have trouble moving (which I true - I have been one of those people).

However this has a tangible cost of the innovation that can occur in this library.

For example the graphql spec is likely to approve "subscriptions" every soon and hence to implement that the result objects in the API will probably have to change to CompleteableFutures etc..

Graphql as an idea is quite new and hence people adopting it are more likely to be adopting it inside newer projects and hence able to run newer Java platforms

(This is of course not an absolute fact - just that they will "tend" to be newer)

The ability for the library to evolve is constrained by the Java 6 underpinnings

Also : http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/eol-135779.html

Java 6 is End Of Life - in announced in 2011 - ending in 2013 - so its well and truly over in some regards.

I would love to get some feedback from people who absolutely need Java 6 as a counter argument but I suspect the demand is low.

This issue is track the idea of moving to Java 8