iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Two experts gave me opposite advice about one broken 1935 window pane. Both were right. They were optimizing for different things. AI coding tools have defaults too. Knowing which ones don't hold for your domain is the engineering part. empatheticdeveloper.wordpress.com/2026/09/13/t...

empatheticdeveloper.wordpress.com

The Glazier Was Right Too

Every framework, every AI coding tool, is built around a standard case. When that case isn’t yours it rarely fails loudly. It hands you the wrong artifact and you ship it. A broken windowpane…

010

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

A senior engineer's real job isn't shipping more features. It's removing the thing the whole team keeps stepping over. The flaky test. The deploy step nobody understands. Fix one obstacle today and everyone feels it next week. #SoftwareEngineering #DevProductivity

010

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

AI can write the code now. So who are you as a developer when it does? Not hype, not doom. My most personal post yet, on identity, craft, and what's actually still yours. empatheticdeveloper.wordpress.com/2026/06/25/w...

empatheticdeveloper.wordpress.com

Who are you as a developer when AI writes code too?

AI can write the code now. So who are you as a developer when it does? An honest look at identity, craft, and what’s actually left that’s yours.

000

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

A question from a panel at AIFokus: what does software development look like next year? One answer stuck with me: the real token bill is coming. When it does, good code stops being good practice and starts showing up on the invoice. empatheticdeveloper.wordpress.com/2026/05/28/t... #AIFokus #AI

empatheticdeveloper.wordpress.com

The Token Bill Is Coming

The token bill is coming. When it does, good code stops being just good practice and starts showing up on your invoice.

000

Reposted by Markus Westergren

Foojay, the Friends Of OpenJDK @foojay.io · 05/05/2026

New post from @maswen.bsky.social on AI as a shepherd for senior developers - examining how AI tools are changing the way we write and think about code. foojay.io/today/ai-she... #Java #AI #Development

foojay.io

The Code Was Always the Door

AI is automating the code, not the engineering. A guide for senior developers on shepherding AI through the work that was always the actual job.

022

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

AI is automating the code, not the engineering. The visible work has shifted. The judgement underneath has not. A field guide for senior developers on shepherding AI through the parts of the job it can't see. empatheticdeveloper.wordpress.com/2026/04/25/a... #AI #SoftwareDevelopment

empatheticdeveloper.wordpress.com

The Code Was Always the Door

AI is automating the code, not the engineering. A guide for senior developers on shepherding AI through the work that was always the actual job.

010

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Back from JCON in Cologne. We gave our talk on developer meaning and identity in the age of AI to a full room, and the conversations afterwards made it clear this is on a lot of minds right now. Big thanks to @richard.fichtner.dev and the team. See you next year! #JCON2026

110

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Two camps dominate the AI debate. Both are loud. Neither engages with how it actually works. I wrote an article breaking down what an LLM actually is, how transformers work, and what that means for using these tools well. empatheticdeveloper.wordpress.com/2026/03/23/u... #Java #AITools

empatheticdeveloper.wordpress.com

Under the Hood: What Your AI Coding Assistant Actually Is

The hype problem If you’ve spent any time on LinkedIn lately, you’ve encountered two very different camps. One is convinced that AI will make developers obsolete within five years. The …

021

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

Attended a webinar on architecture and GenAI. Biggest takeaway: we need to stop treating software development as pop culture and start treating it as an engineering discipline. GenAI makes the same mistakes as traditional architecture. An architect must be broader than an opinion.

120

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Some of the members of @foojay.io came together and collected their thoughts and ideas around sustainability in a book. The first version have been released, check it out!

052

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

Should developers understand WHY code works before submitting it? I say yes, especially with AI generating code so fast. My colleague disagrees. We can't debug what we don't understand. This isn't new, but AI amplifies the problem. What's your take?

100

Reposted by Markus Westergren

Foojay, the Friends Of OpenJDK @foojay.io · 03/02/2026

Proud to introduce the first Foojay book! 'Sustainability for Java Developers' is a collaborative effort from our amazing community. The first edition is now available on @leanpub.bsky.social for FREE with more updates coming soon... foojay.io/today/announ... #Java #Sustainability #FoojayCommunity

foojay.io

Announcing: Sustainability for Java Developers

Java developers from around the world are writung a book about a question that's becoming impossible to ignore: how do we write software that's good for both our projects and the planet?

0109

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

JFokus starts in days! New this year: the Mentorship Hub. Meet speakers, Java Champions, open source devs and authors who've reserved time to help you level up. These hallway conversations can change everything. Limited spots. Register now: jfokus.se #JFokus #Java #Mentorship

jfokus.se

Jfokus Developers Conference

Sweden's largest developer conference focusing on Java, AI/ML, DevOps, and emerging technologies.

021

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

Exciting news! Our talk "A Developer's Search for Meaning: Thriving as AI Transforms Our World" got accepted for JCON EUROPE 2026! Looking forward to meeting the Java community in Cologne, April 20-23. See you at Cinedom! @jcon.one

010

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

Getting involved in the #Java community changed my career. Met amazing people, learned together, even got to present at conferences. Start small: help set up chairs at meetups, offer to give a talk. Tonight I'm co-hosting #Jforum where people are giving their first presentations outside work!

021

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

Preparing for Devoxx, we surveyed developers about AI. Surprising finding: those who embrace AI tools show higher confidence than those avoiding them. Resisting won't make AI go away. Adaptation matters. More in our #Devoxx talk. youtu.be/Jo5mOBRr2b4?...

youtu.be

A Developer's Search for Meaning: Thriving as AI Transforms Our World by Elma Westergren, Markus W

YouTube video by Devoxx

000

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

I've reviewed hundreds of JFokus submissions. Three tips to stand out: 1) Show what attendees will learn, 2) Explain what makes YOU the right speaker for this topic, 3) Polish your title and abstract - they're your pitch. Competition is fierce (up to 10:1 ratio), so make every word count.

131

Reposted by Markus Westergren

Devoxx Belgium @devoxx.com · 10/10/2025

All talks from days 1 to 4 of #Devoxx Belgium are now available on our YouTube channel! 🎥 Catch up on any sessions you missed 👇 www.youtube.com/watch?v=30qK...

1216

Reposted by Markus Westergren

Akka @akka.io · 09/10/2025

Elma Westergren, @maswen.bsky.social, sending good energy for the talk ahead! Java builds the mind Architect guides smart agents AI shepherd leads #Devoxx #Akka #room7

011

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

Sometimes we solve problems that have already been solved. During a big refactoring, I wanted to merge changes incrementally. After experimenting, I rediscovered what @martinfowler.com called "Branch by Abstraction" in 2014. Good practices never get old! #Refactoring martinfowler.com/bliki/Branch...

martinfowler.com

bliki: Branch By Abstraction

Branch by Abstraction" is a technique for making a large-scale change to a software system in gradual way that allows you to release the system regularly while the change is still in-progress.

010

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

#Jfokus 2026 CFP closes in 5 days! I know speaking can feel scary. But it's worth it. You'll grow as a developer, meet amazing people, and help others learn from your experience. The Java community needs your voice. Submit that proposal! 🚀 #Java #CFP www.jfokus.se/hero.html

jfokus.se

Call for Speakers - Jfokus Developers Conference

022

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

Tomorrow Java 25 arrives! After 25+ years with Java, I'm still excited by each release. It is packed with features that make development more enjoyable and the code more maintainable. Which Java 25 feature are you most looking forward to? #Java25 #Java

034

Reposted by Markus Westergren

Jfokus @jfokus.se · 09/09/2025

Meet the Jfokus 2026 Program Committee 🙌 They’re already rating the amazing talks submitted so far. ⏰ CfS closes Sept 30 — only 3 weeks left! Submit your talk 👉 jfokus.se/iamahero #Jfokus #CallforSpeakers

093

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

Tested our app with #Java 25 early release and #Quarkus 3.26.1 today. Found no issues! We all depend on open source, so testing early releases is how we give back. Plus, no surprises when upgrading later. What are you doing to support the projects you use? #OpenSource

053

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

Struggling to name a variable or method? That's your code telling you something. Good names make code readable, but when naming is hard, it often signals design problems. Maybe that method does too much, or you're missing an abstraction. Listen to that struggle, it's valuable feedback.

040

Reposted by Markus Westergren

Devoxx Belgium @devoxx.com · 28/08/2025

📅 The wait is over: the #Devoxx Belgium 2025 schedule is out! Plan your week, pick your favourites ❤️https://m.devoxx.com/events/dvbe25/schedule

02318

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

Proper encapsulation isn't about hiding data. It's about reducing cognitive load. When you can trust a class manages its own state, your brain can focus on business logic instead of tracking side effects. Less mental overhead = more maintainable code.

010

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

Good abstraction in Java lets us focus on the business problem, not implementation details. When we use List<User> we think about users, not array resizing. That's the power of abstraction: reducing cognitive load so our brains can solve what matters. #Java #CleanCode

052

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 24/08/2025

Context switching kills productivity. Research shows it takes 23 minutes to regain focus after interruption. Batch similar tasks, turn off notifications during deep work, document your thought process. Your brain will thank you. #DeveloperProductivity

010

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

When requirements change, don't force new needs into old designs. That urge to add "special handling"? It's your code telling you the model no longer fits reality. Better to redesign now than face a bigger mess later. Every special case today is tomorrow's maintenance nightmare. #Java #CleanCode

031

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

JFokus CFP is open! Remember my first conference talk? I was terrified. But sharing knowledge transforms both you and others. Your debugging breakthrough last week? Someone needs to hear it. Start with a 10-minute lightning talk. Every expert speaker started exactly where you are today. #JFokus

010

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 17/08/2025

Stepping away from the keyboard makes you a better developer. Your brain needs rest to process what you've learned. Take that walk. Read that fiction book. Play with your kids. The code will still be there, and you'll solve it faster.

071

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

Flaky tests are like unreliable friends. They fail randomly, work fine on your machine but not in CI. When every test failure gets blamed on flakiness, we stop trusting our tests. Fix them fast or lose confidence in your safety net. Your future self will thank you. #JavaDev #Testing #CleanCode

010

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

As senior developers, are we struggling to mentor juniors because abstractions have gone too far? The fundamentals remain the same, but what we prioritize has shifted. We need to focus on problem-solving and understanding patterns, not just syntax. What matters most in 2025? #Java #Mentoring

021

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

Speaking at Devoxx Belgium about thriving as developers in the AI era! Help shape our talk by sharing your experience in this 5-min quiz: forms.gle/Ys3fhPQtpf5A... You'll get a report with insights from the community. Your voice matters! #DevoxxBE #AI #JavaCommunity

forms.gle

Exploring occupational identity in the age of AI

Help us understand how AI is transforming developer purpose and meaning. We're presenting at Devoxx Belgium 2025, and your anonymous 5-minute response will directly shape our talk and help fellow de...

163

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

Big refactoring? Start with a spike to experiment. This helps identify smaller tasks that unblock the bigger change. Run old and new solutions side by side, deploy incrementally. No long-lived branches needed. Small wins build momentum. #Java #Refactoring #CodingTips #SoftwareDevelopment

051

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

Growth mindset changed everything for me as a developer. Every bug became a learning opportunity, every code review became knowledge sharing, every failure became a stepping stone. When you see challenges as chances to grow, your entire career transforms. #GrowthMindset #Learning

000

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 10/08/2025

Excellence requires deliberate practice, not just passive learning. We can watch 10,000 hours of cooking videos but won't become chefs without actually cooking. Same with coding: build mental models through practice, not just tutorials. Reflect on what you learn, especially when using AI.

011

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

Writing maintainable Java code comes down to two key principles: keep related things together (high cohesion) and minimize dependencies between parts (low coupling). When you get this right, changes become easier and your code tells a clearer story. #CleanCode #SoftwareDesign

000

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

Been exploring Java Platform Module System (JPMS) from Java 9. Finally, the modularity Java was missing! Class access modifiers aren't enough for hiding internals. Wanted to use it in our enterprise app but hit framework issues, hence Spring Modulith. What's your JPMS experience? #Java #JPMS

021

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

We've all hit NullPointerExceptions. Optional helped with return values, but what about parameters? JSpecify (jspecify.dev) finally gives us framework-agnostic annotations to mark nullable/non-nullable parameters. Static analysis can now catch these issues earlier! #Java #JSpecify

jspecify.dev

JSpecify Main | JSpecify

Standard Annotations for Java Static Analysis

152

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 03/08/2025

I've seen too many teams default to stateful JPA without considering alternatives. JDBC, JOOQ, Jakarta Data, and stateless JPA each solve different problems. The key is matching your persistence choice to your actual needs, not just picking the familiar option. #Java #SoftwareArchitecture

032

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 02/08/2025

Separation of concerns is about keeping related code together and unrelated code apart. Smaller blast radius = easier changes. Works at every level from systems to classes. Make your future self thank you. #CleanCode #Programming

120

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

Experimenting with AI in development isn't optional anymore. Find where coding agents make you more effective while keeping control of what goes to production. AI won't replace developers, but developers using AI well will replace those who don't. #AI

001

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

Been experimenting with subagents in Claude Code. Feels like a major breakthrough! I can define specialized agents for specific tasks, give them exactly the tools they need, and reuse them later. Planning to create agents for my different architect responsibilities. The future of development? 🚀

000

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

Code directly impacts system behavior and value. Good code ensures efficiency and maintainability. Poor code creates technical debt and increased costs. We should write code that reads like a story, not a puzzle. Program with intent using Kent Beck's simple design rules. #SoftwareDevelopment

010