This rule allows to write tests that are only executed if the running JVM supports Java 8 byte code.

Java8Rule.java

public class Java8Rule implements MethodRule {

  private final boolean java8OrHigher;

  public Java8Rule() {
    java8OrHigher = currentByteCodeLevel() >= (0 << 16 | 52);
  }

  @Override
  public Statement apply(Statement base, FrameworkMethod method, Object target) {
    if (java8OrHigher || method.getAnnotation(Enforce.class) == null) {
      return base;
    } else {
      return new NoOpStatement();
    }
  }

  @Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
  @Target(ElementType.METHOD)
  public static @interface Enforce {
    /* empty */
  }

  private static class NoOpStatement extends Statement {

    @Override
    public void evaluate() throws Throwable {
      /* do nothing */
    }
  }
    
  private static int currentByteCodeLevel() {
    String versionString = System.getProperty(JAVA_VERSION_PROPERTY);
    int[] versionIndex = {-1, 0, 0};
    for (int i = 1; i < 3; i++) {
      versionIndex[i] = versionString.indexOf('.', versionIndex[i - 1] + 1);
      if (versionIndex[i] == -1) {
        throw new IllegalStateException("This JVM's version string does not seem to be valid: " + versionString);
      }
    }
    return Integer.parseInt(versionString.substring(versionIndex[1] + 1, versionIndex[2]));
  }
}