Contents
CORE JAVA
▪️Learning Java Automation the SOLID Way: A Beginner’s Guide to Learn Page Object Model with Java SOLID Principles
▪️OpenJ9 GC Policies: How to Choose the Right Collector
API & FRAMEWORKS
▪️Elasticsearch Java SDK: No Magic, Just Solid Design Choices
▪️Java Developers, You’re Already Ready for Blockchain — You Just Don’t Know It Yet
▪️Connecting Java Reinforcement Learning to Python Gymnasium
▪️Beyond Text Search: A Smarter Way to Understand Your Code
▪️The 3 A.M. Deadlock
AI & ML
▪️Agentic AI Patterns for Enterprise Software
DEVOPS
▪️Semantic Versioning Done Automatically
SECURITY
▪️Sharing SBOMs Securely Without Giving Too Much Away
▪️The Security Innovations in Vaadin 25.2
TESTING & QUALITY
▪️How to Write Your Own DbUnit
Details
Page count: 122
Authors: Tobi Ajila, Yasin Baytürk, Alexei Bratuhin, Laura Cowen, Kevin Dubois, Stefano Fago, Jago de Vreede, Bryan Friedman, Savi Grover, Aleksandar Micic, Dmitri Pivkine, Satya Ranjan, Sven Ruppert, Babneet Singh, Guilherme Alves Silveira
Editorial
From Sustainable Engineering to Autonomous Java
Software development is undergoing a quiet but significant transformation. For years, much of our attention was focused on individual technologies, frameworks, and the language itself. New APIs arrived, architectures evolved, cloud-native became mainstream, and more recently, Artificial Intelligence entered the software development landscape at unprecedented speed.
Yet as systems continue to grow in complexity, a different challenge is emerging. The question is no longer simply how to build a feature. The question is how to build software that remains understandable, maintainable, scalable, and adaptable long after the first version has been deployed and how we prepare our applications for a future where systems operate with increasing autonomy.
This issue explores that journey toward Autonomous Java from multiple perspectives. We begin with the absolute bedrock of any self-steering system: software quality and maintainability. From applying SOLID principles in test automation and Page Object Models to understanding the design decisions behind the Elasticsearch Java SDK, we revisit core engineering practices that continue to matter regardless of technological trends. True autonomy cannot exist without a rock-solid, predictable architecture.
At the same time, modern software delivery increasingly depends on automation – the vital precursor to true autonomy. Versioning, releases, testing, deployment pipelines, and operational processes must work reliably at scale without manual intervention. Our coverage of automated semantic versioning demonstrates how routine development tasks can become predictable, repeatable, and far less error-prone when properly integrated into the engineering workflow.
Artificial Intelligence remains a major force shaping software development, but the conversation is rapidly evolving. Rather than focusing solely on models and prompts, this issue examines the next frontier: how agentic AI patterns can be integrated into enterprise systems and how autonomous software components are reshaping future application architectures.
Another recurring theme throughout this edition is the growing importance of understanding information at scale. Whether we search through source code, business data, logs, or documents, traditional approaches increasingly struggle to keep pace with the size and complexity of modern systems. Our exploration of semantic search technologies demonstrates how richer models and deeper contextual understanding are enabling developers – and autonomous agents – to interact with large codebases and information ecosystems.
We also look beyond established technology domains. Blockchain remains one of the most misunderstood topics in enterprise software, often viewed as a specialized field disconnected from mainstream application development. In reality, many of its underlying concepts will feel surprisingly familiar to experienced Java developers, and understanding them becomes increasingly valuable as decentralized, autonomous technologies mature.
Finally, operational excellence remains a defining characteristic of successful software systems. Choosing the right garbage collection strategy can have a significant impact on performance, scalability, and resource efficiency. Our examination of OpenJ9 garbage collection policies highlights how thoughtful runtime decisions continue to play a crucial role in modern, highly automated Java deployments.
Taken together, the articles in this issue share a common message: Technology continues to evolve rapidly, but long-term success rarely comes from chasing individual trends. It comes from building systems that remain reliable, understandable, and adaptable as technologies, requirements, and organizations change. Modern Java is uniquely positioned to lead this shift. Its ecosystem combines decades of engineering maturity with continuous innovation, allowing teams to embrace the future of autonomous systems while maintaining the stability and discipline required by production environments.
The future of software development will undoubtedly include AI, autonomous agents, and entirely new platforms. But regardless of what comes next, sustainable software engineering remains the foundation upon which all meaningful innovation is built.
A very special thanks goes to all the authors of this issue. By generously sharing their deep expertise with the Java community, they not only help drive the ecosystem forward but also make a truly invaluable contribution to the future of our industry.
Enjoy this issue.
