IntelliJ IDEA
IntelliJ IDEA – the Leading Java and Kotlin IDE, by JetBrains
Top Java Blogs for Experienced Programmers
Following up on our previous article in which we shared some great multi-author blogs to follow, today we have a curated selection of personal blogs from top Java experts.
These experts aren’t just the best at what they do – they’re also great at sharing their knowledge in ways that are easy to understand and fun to read. By following these blogs, you will always be ahead of the game, learning the newest tricks, and loving every moment of it.
Happy reading, and may your code always compile on the first try!
Josh Long
When it comes to Spring and Java, Josh Long needs no introduction. As the first Spring Developer Advocate and a Java Champion, Josh has built a rich repository of content that is suitable for developers of every level and features diverse formats for any learning style:
- Books on Java, Spring, and reactive programming.
- Live tutorial videos for hands-on learning.
- Conference schedules for attending sessions with Josh live.
- Coffee + Software and Spring Tips YouTube series for practical insights.
- A Bootiful Podcast for fascinating discussions on Java and Spring technology.
Articles to start with:
- Go, Go, Modern Java in 2023!
- Easy and Secure Microservices with Spring Security and Auth0
- Java 21: Threads at Bargain Basement Prices!
Nicolas Fränkel
Nicolas Fränkel shares his deep knowledge of Java and software development through his blog. Having consulted for numerous industries – including telecoms, banking, insurance, and retail – he brings a wealth of real-world expertise to his writing. His technical focus is primarily on Java and Spring, Kotlin, Rust, rich internet applications, testing strategies, CI/CD, and DevOps practices.
But Nicolas doesn’t just write code – he shares his knowledge in many ways:
- Clear, practical blog posts.
- Published books.
- Regular talks at conferences.
Articles to start with:
Donald Raab
Want to learn from the creator of Eclipse Collections? Donald Raab is a Java Champion, blogger, and international conference speaker with over 40 years of programming experience. What’s in his tech toolbox? He writes a lot about Eclipse Collections (his famous Java library), JavaFX tips and tricks, and code quality and productivity secrets that actually work.
He is also the creator of the BNY Mellon Code Katas, designed to help developers practice their coding skills through problem-solving. His contributions to the Java community go beyond just technical innovations, as he’s played a key role as a JCP Executive Committee Representative.
Articles to start with:
Adam Bien
Remember when Java was just version 1.0? Adam Bien was there, and he’s been shaping the Java ecosystem ever since. Adam isn’t your typical tech influencer – he’s a hands-on architect and developer who turns complex ideas into working proofs of concept, showing us what really works in Java SE, Jakarta EE, and MicroProfile development.
His no-nonsense approach to backend and frontend development is refreshing. As a Java Champion, AWS Hero, and author of several books, Adam’s credentials speak for themselves. His writing style is down-to-earth, humorous, and focused on helping developers “kill the bloat”. For practical, straightforward Java insights, Adam Bien’s blog is a must-read.
Articles and podcasts to start with:
- Java 22 and 23 Features
- Late 2024 Conferences, Java User Groups (JUG), and Workshops
- Java, LLMs, and Seamless AI Integration with langchain4j, Quarkus, and MicroProfile
Vlad Mihalcea
Vlad Mihalcea, a Java Champion and outstanding developer, has dedicated years to perfecting the craft of high-performance coding. He literally wrote the book High-Performance Java Persistence, which is crushing it on Amazon’s bestseller list!
For over eleven years, Vlad’s been sharing valuable insights about Spring, JPA, and Hibernate in clear, practical ways. And when it comes to databases? If there was a database superhero, it would be Vlad.
But wait, there’s more! This isn’t just a blog, it’s a complete learning playground for developers:
- Want regular expert tips? Subscribe to his High-Performance Java Persistence Newsletter.
- Ready to practice? Jump into his step-by-step tutorials conveniently organized by topics.
- Want to improve your skills? Try his courses.
- Interested in open source? Experiment with his Hypersistence Optimizer.
Articles to start with:
- Why and when you should use JPA
- A beginner’s guide to MongoDB performance turbocharging
- Testcontainers Database Integration Testing
Thorben Janssen
Thorben Janssen is a Java expert with over 15 years of experience using Hibernate and JPA in various projects, from fast-paced, small ones to large-scale applications. His blog focuses on sharing practical solutions to common Hibernate issues, drawing from his extensive knowledge.
In addition to his blog, Janssen manages The Persistence Hub, a platform offering premium video courses, expert sessions, and learning paths tailored to different skill levels. He also keeps developers up to date with the Java Persistence Newsletter. Janssen’s book, Hibernate Tips, and his workshops provide even more in-depth guidance for developers looking to master Java persistence.
Articles to start with:
- Hibernate Best Practices
- Hibernate Performance Tuning – 2024 Edition
- JPQL – How to Define Queries in JPA and Hibernate
Nikolai Parlog
Nicolai Parlog, aka nipafx, is a passionate Java enthusiast who makes learning Java fun and accessible. His blog focuses on various Java versions and their key features. He explains Java concepts in simple terms and often adds a dash of humor, keeping his content engaging and relatable.
Here’s what else you can find on his blog:
- His book The Java Module System provides clear examples and intuitive diagrams, making even complex topics easy to grasp.
- His talks from conferences.
- Videos with various tutorials.
- Demo projects related to his posts and videos, so you can try out the code and enhance your hands-on learning experience.
- His Random Musings newsletter, where he writes about Java, content creation, sci-fi, LEGO, and more.
Articles to start with:
- How To Use switch In Modern Java
- JUnit 5 Basics: @Test, Lifecycle, Assertions, Assumptions, And More
- Code-First Java Module System Tutorial
Trisha Gee
Trisha Gee is a software engineer, Java Champion, and author. She was a Java advocate at JetBrains and now works as a Lead Developer Advocate at Gradle. Her passion for helping developers succeed shines through in everything she creates.
Trisha is also a well-known speaker at international conferences, covering topics from Java and Spring to career advice on staying happy and productive in tech.
Her work resonates within the community, particularly through her books and courses, such as Head First Java, Getting to Know IntelliJ IDEA, and 97 Things Every Java Developer Should Know. That makes you wonder – how can anyone think of 97 things? If you can name at least 10, you’re on the right track!
Articles to start with:
- Gradle Gradle Gradle, with Gradle we’re going to play
- Are Developer Productivity and Developer Joy opposites?
- Flaky tests are poisoning your productivity
Daniel Ciocîrlan
Daniel Ciocîrlan, the founder of Rock the JVM, turns complex Scala, Kotlin, and Java concepts into manageable, bite-sized chunks of information. No boring lectures here – just clear explanations that click!
Check out his blog posts when you want a deep dive, or hop over to his YouTube channel when you need to see code in action.
Articles to start with:
- The Big Kotlin Tutorial
- The Ultimate Guide to Java Virtual Threads
- HTTP Authentication with Scala and Http4s
Hanno Embregts
Meet Hanno Embregts, a Java Champion and Oracle ACE Pro who mixes code with creativity! When he’s not crafting Java solutions or speaking at conferences, you might find him jamming on his guitar or flute.
His blog is a well-organized playlist of Java knowledge, sorted by year so you can easily find your favorite tracks! From fresh Java features to battle-tested best practices, Hanno shares stories from his journey as a developer, consultant, and educator.
There is also a special section for his talks at Java events that include his keynotes.
His blog offers both technical expertise and a personal touch, connecting with readers on multiple levels.
Articles to start with:
- Java 23 Has Arrived, And It Brings a Truckload of Changes
- Java 22 Is Here, And It’s Ready To Rock
- Java 21 is Available Today, And It’s Quite the Update
Marit van Dijk
Marit van Dijk, a Java Champion and a JetBrains Developer Advocate, has been in software development for more than 20 years.
What’s in Marit’s tech toolbox? There’s Java (she’s a Champion for a reason), Kotlin with all of the modern tricks, Git for mastering version control, dependency management to keep projects clean, and insider tips on IntelliJ IDEA from someone who knows it inside out.
On her blog, you’ll find clear tutorials that simplify complex topics, testing tips that actually work, blog posts solving real problems, and helpful videos for when you’d rather watch than read.
Her blog keeps track of where she’ll be speaking next, from tech conferences to webinars, and is perfect for catching her live presentations or saying hi at events!
Articles to start with:
Sebastian Daschner
Sebastian Daschner’s blog focuses on Java, cloud-native technologies, and enterprise software development. As a consultant, trainer, and developer, he’s dedicated to making software development more effective and enjoyable by explaining not just how concepts work but why they matter. A Java Champion and Oracle Developer Champion, Sebastian shares insights on topics like Kubernetes, Quarkus, Docker, and developer productivity.
On his blog, you can find your own learning adventure:
- Blog posts.
- Video courses.
- A regular Java tips newsletter.
- His YouTube channel.
- Podcasts for learning on the go.
Articles to start with:
- 13 Cool IntelliJ Features (You Probably Didn’t Know)
- How to Become Better at the Keyboard
- Effective Developer Workflows With Quarkus
Tom Cools
Tom Cools’ blog is basically a handbook of lessons learned from the ever-changing world of IT because, let’s face it, you never stop learning in this field! As a Java consultant, licensed high school teacher, trainer, and mentor, Tom doesn’t just focus on code but on keeping the learning going, whether he’s sharing advice online or in the classroom.
His main topics cover Java, tips on learning programming, presentation skills, and more, making his blog a go-to resource for anyone looking to level up their IT game.
He runs the Belgian Java User Group and organizes monthly meetups where Java enthusiasts gather to geek out.
If you’d love to hear more from him, you’re in luck – he’s a regular at conferences. Head over to his Talks page for the full lineup of where he’s speaking next.
Articles to start with:
- Java related things I want to see more of in 2023
- Use Testcontainers to create a Docker Test Image
- Jumping into Kotlin
Holly Cummins
Holly Cummins, a Senior Principal Software Engineer on the Red Hat Quarkus team, brings a wealth of experience and a knack for innovation to the Java community. Her journey from IBM, where she wore multiple hats, including full-stack JavaScript developer, WebSphere Liberty build architect, and innovation leader in the IBM Garage, is just the start. Holly has worked with tech at all scales, from startups to banking giants, and even used cloud power for some cool projects like guiding a blind athlete through ultra-marathons and tackling climate risks.
Her blog is the perfect mix of tech and thrill, diving into AI, Quarkus, and Java with a playful edge. She’s all about making software development not just doable, but fun.
Articles to start with:
- Zombie Menace, Vampire Peril
- Will Generative AI Kill Developer Jobs
- Is Efficiency A Good Thing? Part I: What is Efficiency, and Are We Any Good At It?
Marco Behler
Marco Behler’s blog is where Java developers find complex topics made simple and fun. Marco breaks down tricky Java and JVM concepts into easy-to-follow guides and courses, helping developers save time and frustration while getting better at their craft.
Currently working as a product manager at JetBrains, Marco has a background in running his own consultancy in Munich and working with big companies like BMW. His love for coding started at a young age – back in school when a friend handed him a CD full of hacking tools. From those early days of cracking code to now giving Java and Spring training across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, Marco shares his passion through his blog, making it a must-visit for any developer wanting a fresh, engaging take on programming.
Articles to start with:
- Java & Databases: An Overview of Libraries & APIs
- Java Microservices: A Practical Guide
- What is Kubernetes? An Unorthodox Guide for Developers
Siva Labs
Siva Katamreddy’s blog is for anyone passionate about Java, microservices, and cloud-native development. With over 18 years of experience as a software engineer, Siva dives deep into topics like building scalable applications using Java, Kotlin, Spring Boot, and GoLang. His hands-on expertise extends to microservices, event-driven systems using Kafka and AWS SQS, and infrastructure automation with tools like Jenkins and Terraform.
Siva’s blog doesn’t just stick to written content – he also shares video tutorials via his YouTube channel, making complex topics accessible for developers of any level.
Articles to start with:
- Getting Started with Spring Boot
- Spring Boot REST API Best Practices – Part 1
- SpringBoot Best Practices
Ionut Balosin
Ever wondered what it takes to build high-performance, scalable, and resilient Java applications? Look no further than Ionut Balosin’s blog. A software architect with over 15 years of hands-on experience in software development across various business applications, Ionut shares his deep technical knowledge in a way that’s both practical and engaging. As an Oracle ACE Associate, security champion, and frequent speaker at major software development conferences, he knows what it takes to create production-ready systems.
On his blog, you’ll find trending articles and updates on where you can catch his next live talk. If you’re into practical, real-world insights on building robust applications, this blog is a must-follow. Who knows, you might even book him for a training session after exploring his compelling content!
Articles to start with:
- JVM Performance Comparison for JDK 21
- Logging patterns and their performance impact
- JVM Performance Comparison for JDK 17
Summary
In this article, we’ve curated a list of top personal blogs from some of the most influential Java experts out there. From JVM performance tuning to real-life software architecture lessons, these authors bring their years of experience straight to your screen. Whether you’re interested in hands-on tutorials, conference talks, or exploring the cutting-edge corners of Java, there’s something here for every developer.
Who do you follow? Are there any Java gurus or blogs you swear by? Drop their names in the comments and let’s expand the list!
Subscribe to IntelliJ IDEA Blog updates
