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Venkat Subramaniam: I Teach Because I Learn
Duke’s Corner Java Podcast: Venkat Subramaniam: I Teach Because I Learn
Jim Grisanzio from Oracle Java Developer Relations talks with Venkat Subramaniam who was recognized with the Java Community Lifetime Achievement honors by Oracle’s Sharat Chander at Devoxx UK in May 2024. Venkat is a Java Champion, author, speaker, founder of Agile Developer, co-founder of the dev2next conference, and teacher at the University of Houston.
In this conversation, which is part of an ongoing series honoring Java pioneers, Venkat expresses profound humility about his accomplishments and credits industry giants and his passion for learning and sharing technical knowledge. He reflects on leaving his own company years ago to focus on teaching and technology, writing books like Cruising Along with Java, and speaking at over 45 conferences and 30 Java User Groups — every single year! Venkat has one of the most impressive global speaking schedules of anyone in the Java community.
Venkat praises Java User Group leaders as “unsung heroes” for their organizational efforts and highlights Java 25’s evolving features like structured concurrency, scoped values, pattern matching, and the instance main method, which helps simplify the learning process for new developers. Venkat also cites Java’s agile six-month release cycle, which helps improve the smooth evolution of Java, increases developer engagement, and makes Java more suitable for today’s rapidly expanding technology markets. Emphasizing teaching as reciprocal learning, Venkat advises students to engage mentors and senior developers to collaborate with juniors to help welcome into the community. He stresses that knowledge grows when shared. His mantra? Teaching fuels learning and he lives that ethic every day as he interacts with thousands of developers around the world.
Here are some links on the web where this interview can be found: Links: Apple | Bluesky | Bluesky | LinkedIn | LinkedIn | Libsyn | WordPress | WordPress | X | X | YouTube
Also, below are some quotes and the specific context of the quotes from the conversation split into sections.
Community Recognition and Humility
Unexpected Award ShockTimestamp: 00:01:16Context: During the conversation, Venkat recalls the moment he was awarded the Java Community Lifetime Achievement honors at Devoxx UK in May 2024, an initiative led by Sharat Chander of Oracle’s Java Developer Relations to recognize community contributions. He describes being caught off guard right before a keynote when Shar made the announcement, emphasizing the vital role of community members in the Java ecosystem. Venkat shares his nervousness and surprise, feeling unprepared for such recognition amidst esteemed industry figures.Quote: “I was truly shocked, honestly. If you want me to truly explain the feeling, I was very nervous being there and did not see this coming. I don’t think I consider myself as worthy of being received compared to the giants I mentioned in the industry today.”
Humbled by GiantsTimestamp: 00:00:49Context: Early in the interview, Venkat expresses profound gratitude for the award, emphasizing his humility in being recognized alongside prominent Java contributors. He references Newton’s quote to highlight that his achievements build on the foundational work of others, acknowledging the mentors and peers who have shaped his career and strengthened the Java community through their contributions.Quote: “I look up so many giants that are in the field and I’m truly humbled for having been recognized. I want to channel in the words of Newton. He said, I see the farthest because I am standing on the shoulders of the giants. I’m very humbled and thankful for the giants that brought me up to here and I couldn’t be here without it.”
Undeserving Yet GratefulTimestamp: 00:02:37Context: After receiving the award, Venkat reflects on feeling unworthy compared to other Java luminaries, many of whom he believes have made more significant contributions. Venkat shares his emotional response to the unexpected honor from Shar. Venkat values diverse community efforts like coding, blogging, and event organization, which underscores his gratitude despite his self-perceived inadequacy.Quote: “I don’t think I was expecting or even feel that I was deserving of it. So I’m very grateful. I don’t think I consider myself as worthy of being recognized compared to the giants I mentioned in the industry today. So I’m very grateful and it was an interesting moment.”
Contributions to User Groups and Conferences
Unsung Heroes of User GroupsTimestamp: 00:07:44Context: Venkat passionately praises Java User Group (JUG) leaders as the backbone of the Java community, recognizing their tireless, often thankless efforts in organizing monthly meetings for years. He details their work in securing speakers, arranging venues, providing food, cleaning up, and more — all done voluntarily to foster learning and networking and community building. These leaders, often unknown beyond their local communities, embody true service and significantly contribute to Java’s vibrant ecosystem.Quote: “These are to me, the unsung heroes of our field. These are the user group leaders. Most people wouldn’t know their names outside of their local community, but these are the people doing hard work every single day. Imagine the effort it takes to organize a user group meeting month after month after month, having a speaker come over, having the attendees show up, having the food for them available, having the facility to clean up after the meeting is over.”
Giving Back Through User GroupsTimestamp: 00:17:47Context: Venkat shares how a scheduling mistake 25 years ago at a Houston Java user group gave him his first speaking opportunity, a pivotal moment that launched his community engagement. Grateful for this serendipitous break, he commits to speaking at around 30 user groups annually, as listed on his website (agiledeveloper.com). He views it as a way to repay the community that elevated his career.Quote: “This is one of the reasons, in all honesty, 25 years later that I speak in approximately 30 or more user groups every single year. If you go to my website, agiledeveloper.com, and you look in the events section, you will see the number of user groups I talk to every single year because that’s, to me, a way to give back to the user groups because that’s what I started.”
Conferences and Broad ReachTimestamp: 00:18:25Context: Venkat attributes part of his recognition to his extensive speaking at approximately 45 conferences yearly, reaching diverse audiences from aspiring developers to seasoned experts. His talks cover deep technical details, career advice, and Java innovations — all of which creates creating a broad “surface area” of impact. This prolific engagement, driven by his enthusiasm, likely contributed to his award, connecting him with developers worldwide.Quote: “I speak in roughly about, I don’t even count, but I’m going to say maybe 45 or more conferences a year. So I think that’s part of the reason for the recognition is the amount of… the surface area that I can touch. I can touch the surface area of young developers, aspiring programmers, seasoned professionals, all the way to experts with my interaction in the industry by way of conferences, user groups, university, consulting, writing books.”
Everyone Needs a BreakTimestamp: 00:14:00Context: Venkat recalls a defining moment 25 years ago when a calendar error by a Houston Java user group organizer allowed him to speak on a non-teaching night. This led to an invitation to the No Fluff, Just Stuff conference, connecting him with industry giants like Jason Hunter and James Duncan Davidson, marking a turning point in his career through serendipity.Quote: “Everybody needs a break. If you don’t get a break, you could have the potential, but you need that first break, right? It’s like the actors who always tell you, well, I was in acting school and I was interested in acting, but here’s where I got a first break. Well, I got my first break in the Java User Group.”
Teaching and Sharing Knowledge
Teaching as LearningTimestamp: 00:39:16Context: Near the end of the interview, Venkat articulates his teaching philosophy, emphasizing its reciprocal nature. As a part-time professor for 34 years, he views himself as the “first student” in his classes, learning from student questions and interactions. This approach fuels his growth and reinforces his commitment to sharing practical knowledge with students, helping them navigate their careers.Quote: “I teach because I learn. And I always say I’m the first student in my classes. So collaborate, bring other developers because you end up learning by doing [more] so than being in isolation in solving your problems.”
Sharing ExcitementTimestamp: 00:03:16Context: Early in the discussion, Venkat explains his shift in focus from seeking recognition to prioritizing learning and sharing knowledge. He describes how, in his late twenties, he realized that true reward lies in daily learning and helping others grow, a mindset that drives his prolific contributions to the Java community through technical talks, writing books, and teaching students and professional developers.Quote: “If our mind is focused on learning, and then sharing what we learn, then we are not focused on where we get the recognition from. The reward is when I wake up in the morning and feel like I have learned something more than I did the day before. And then I go to bed knowing that maybe I helped somebody else along the way to learn something more than they did.”
Venkat’s Company and Solo PathTimestamp: 00:10:06Context: Venkat shares his transformative decision to leave his day job and, after four years, fire himself from his own company. He realized that he was a technologist at heart, not a business person. This shift allowed him to focus on learning, tinkering with technologies, and sharing insights through talks and books — all of which aligned with his true passion.Quote: “I quit working in a day job several decades ago and I started my own company and only to realize after about four or five years running my company to realize that I’m not a business person. I’m a technologist, and I realized that what I truly enjoy is learning about stuff, tinkering with technologies, trying to come up with reasons about why things work and how they should be implemented, and then to turn around and be able to share that and coach people doing it.”
Long-Term Teaching CommitmentTimestamp: 00:13:08Context: Venkat discusses his 34-year tenure as a part-time university professor, emphasizing that his goal isn’t academic status but instead sharing practical knowledge in the industry. By teaching evenings, he bridges his professional experiences with academia, helping students learn career approaches and professional skills, contributing to their development as future Java developers.Quote: “I’m into my 34th year of teaching at the university. All these 34 years, part-time, I moonlight. I’ve never been [on the] tenured track or in a position to be tenured. I don’t want to be tenured. My goal is not to be a professor. My goal is to teach students about things they can learn, how to learn, how to approach their careers.”
Venkat’s Book MotivationTimestamp: 00:11:58Context: Venkat explains his motivation for writing books like Cruising Along with Java recently. He was initially hesitant but driven by a desire to share stories about technology nuances. Unlike writing for business promotion, he finds excitement in conveying discoveries about languages or design methods, using books and conferences as platforms to educate and inspire developers.Quote: “The one reason to write a book is to maybe promote yourself and promote your business. But to me, a bigger reason to write a book is I’ve got a story to tell. And that’s what excites me about writing books. Almost every book I’ve written since then, I started writing the book because I have a story to tell. I discover a nuance in a language or in a library or in a method of designing, and I want to speak that.”
Knowledge Grows When GivenTimestamp: 00:38:08Context: While offering advice, Venkat emphasizes that sharing knowledge benefits both the giver and the receiver. He describes how teaching prompts self-reflection and leads to new questions, often leading him to take notes during conversations to explore topics further. This reinforces his belief that knowledge, unlike money, grows through sharing, enriching all parties involved.Quote: “I often say that knowledge is a wealth that grows when it’s given. You know, if I give you $10, I’m poorer by $10. But if I share with you a little bit of what I know, I never give you what I know because as I’m talking to you, I’m going to start thinking, do I understand this really well? Or you are asking a question and that immediately triggers in my mind, oh my gosh, I need to really go in and look at that a little bit more because that’s a question I haven’t thought through much.”
Java Evolution and Features
Java 25 ExcitementsTimestamp: 00:20:20Context: When asked about Java 25, set for release in September 2025, Venkat expresses enthusiasm for features like structured concurrency, scoped values, pattern matching, and the instance main method. He is particularly excited about structured concurrency’s foundation on virtual threads for solving divide-and-conquer problems, pattern matching’s evolving syntax for expressive coding, and the instance main method’s role in simplifying Java for newcomers.Quote: “There are actually a few things that are new and maybe even evolving that I’m truly excited about. There are several features, and I don’t want to lessen any one of them by mentioning a few. But I think one of the things I’ve been keeping my eyes on very closely as it’s going through the development is the structured concurrency and scoped values. The pattern matching syntax as it’s been evolving, I think it’s very interesting to see the instance of, for the primitive types, I think that’s pretty exciting, very useful as well. The other thing that I’m keeping my eyes on pretty nicely evolving is the compact source files and instance main method.”
Structured Concurrency and Virtual ThreadsTimestamp: 00:20:39Context: Venkat elaborates on his excitement for Java 25’s structured concurrency, a feature built on virtual threads introduced in earlier releases. He explains that this feature addresses complex divide-and-conquer problems, making it a significant advancement for experienced developers writing production code. His enthusiasm stems from closely following its development, seeing it as a powerful tool to enhance Java’s concurrency capabilities for robust, scalable applications.Quote: “Structured concurrency is in a way built on top of virtual threads, which is another exciting feature for me. But structured concurrency is solving a set of problems that are very exciting to solve, divide and conquer problems and so on. So I’ve been keeping an eye on that quite a bit.”
Incremental Changes and 6-Month CycleTimestamp: 00:29:02Context: Venkat praises Java’s six-month release cycle for its agile, incremental approach, allowing developers to benefit from features like pattern matching as they evolve. He contrasts this with long waits for major releases, noting that incremental updates enable faster adoption and adaptation, aligning with agile development principles and benefiting programmers.Quote: “You are able to come back and keep adding more capabilities to it is much better than saying you wait for eight years to get everything versus you can get them incrementally every six months. I think that’s more beneficial to developers. I feel that’s more agile in a lot of ways as well. So that’s what I mean by evolutionary is you can reap the benefits along the way rather than having to wait a long time to get them all.”
Evolving for Next GenerationTimestamp: 00:21:56Context: Discussing Java 25’s instance main method, Venkat explains its significance in simplifying the onboarding process for new developers. He contrasts the complexity faced by early Java adopters from C and C++ backgrounds with today’s newcomers, who find Java’s initial learning curve daunting, making features like instance main crucial for accessibility.Quote: “The instance main method is something I’m really, really super excited about. I’ve been a critique of this for years earlier, that when you start getting introduced to Java, it’s like being hit by a bus. You have to learn about so many things that you don’t need to know right now just to even start with the hello world. I think that main method feature is something I really truly respect as well.”
Pattern Matching EvolutionTimestamp: 00:27:06Context: Venkat uses an analogy to Captain America to describe the incremental evolution of Java’s pattern matching syntax, from a simple switch statement to a robust feature. He recalls a conversation with Brian Goetz, Java Language Architect at Oracle, who outlined delivering pattern matching in “three installments,” a process that has extended but exemplifies Java’s thoughtful, iterative development.Quote: “This purely little switch statement, look at how it turned into this powerful pattern matching syntax. So I relate the pattern matching syntax to Captain America’s evolution. I wrote the book recently called Cruising Along with Java. And as you can see that I get excited, I talk about, I’m a person of analogies. So when I started talking about pattern matching in the book, I gave the example of Steve Rogers, who was this puny little guy who didn’t have much strength, failed being in an army. And then they treat him with the serum. And then he turns into this powerful Captain America.”
Advice for Developers
Advice for StudentsTimestamp: 00:33:50Context: Offering advice to students, Venkat stresses the importance of reaching out to mentors and engaging in face-to-face conversations, urging students to keep cameras on during virtual meetings for richer interactions. He shares how he provides Zoom links to students, encouraging them to ask beyond technical questions to learn about careers and conferences, accelerating their growth.Quote: “If you’re a student, the first thing I would say is reach out to people. Reach out to people and have conversations with them. I can’t tell you how many times I tell my students, here’s my Zoom link. I tell them, here’s a link. You click on it. I pop in like a genie and I’m going to talk to you. Make use of that, I tell my students all the time. The other thing I actually sincerely say that is keep your cameras on. The conversation is very different when you’re able to see the other person.”
Advice for Senior DevelopersTimestamp: 00:37:18Context: Addressing senior developers, Venkat encourages collaboration with junior developers, especially in the context of using AI tools. He sees this as a mutual learning opportunity, where seniors impart critical thinking and fundamentals, while juniors introduce new tools and techniques, fostering a collaborative environment that benefits both parties in today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape.Quote: “This is an opportunity for you, the senior developer, to engage the junior developers into more collaborative development. And by doing so, I always say it’s got to be a benefit for everybody, otherwise we’re not going to do it. So the young developers begin to learn that proper thinking and critical thinking is important. They’re going to be able to learn that from you, the senior developer. But as a senior developer, you also quickly begin to learn that there are tools and techniques you’re not aware of, but these young developers are able to drag them in because they’re so quick in looking at different things.”
AI as a ToolTimestamp: 00:36:35Context: Discussing the role of AI in development, Venkat cautions that while AI is a powerful tool, it cannot replace strong fundamentals. He uses an analogy of misusing a lawnmower to highlight the need for careful application, urging senior developers to guide juniors in balancing AI’s capabilities with critical thinking and foundational knowledge.Quote: “AI is a powerful tool, but we gotta be careful using it. When you have young developers on your team who feel like they can do anything they want because they have these tools, what they don’t understand is that’s not a substitute for having good fundamentals. This is an opportunity for you, the senior developer, to engage the junior developers into more collaborative development.”
Interview Archive
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By Jim GrisanzioDuke’s Corner Java Podcast: Venkat Subramaniam: I Teach Because I Learn
Jim Grisanzio from Oracle Java Developer Relations talks with Venkat Subramaniam who was recognized with the Java Community Lifetime Achievement honors by Oracle’s Sharat Chander at Devoxx UK in May 2024. Venkat is a Java Champion, author, speaker, founder of Agile Developer, co-founder of the dev2next conference, and teacher at the University of Houston.
In this conversation, which is part of an ongoing series honoring Java pioneers, Venkat expresses profound humility about his accomplishments and credits industry giants and his passion for learning and sharing technical knowledge. He reflects on leaving his own company years ago to focus on teaching and technology, writing books like Cruising Along with Java, and speaking at over 45 conferences and 30 Java User Groups — every single year! Venkat has one of the most impressive global speaking schedules of anyone in the Java community.
Venkat praises Java User Group leaders as “unsung heroes” for their organizational efforts and highlights Java 25’s evolving features like structured concurrency, scoped values, pattern matching, and the instance main method, which helps simplify the learning process for new developers. Venkat also cites Java’s agile six-month release cycle, which helps improve the smooth evolution of Java, increases developer engagement, and makes Java more suitable for today’s rapidly expanding technology markets. Emphasizing teaching as reciprocal learning, Venkat advises students to engage mentors and senior developers to collaborate with juniors to help welcome into the community. He stresses that knowledge grows when shared. His mantra? Teaching fuels learning and he lives that ethic every day as he interacts with thousands of developers around the world.
Here are some links on the web where this interview can be found: Links: Apple | Bluesky | Bluesky | LinkedIn | LinkedIn | Libsyn | WordPress | WordPress | X | X | YouTube
Also, below are some quotes and the specific context of the quotes from the conversation split into sections.
Community Recognition and Humility
Unexpected Award ShockTimestamp: 00:01:16Context: During the conversation, Venkat recalls the moment he was awarded the Java Community Lifetime Achievement honors at Devoxx UK in May 2024, an initiative led by Sharat Chander of Oracle’s Java Developer Relations to recognize community contributions. He describes being caught off guard right before a keynote when Shar made the announcement, emphasizing the vital role of community members in the Java ecosystem. Venkat shares his nervousness and surprise, feeling unprepared for such recognition amidst esteemed industry figures.Quote: “I was truly shocked, honestly. If you want me to truly explain the feeling, I was very nervous being there and did not see this coming. I don’t think I consider myself as worthy of being received compared to the giants I mentioned in the industry today.”
Humbled by GiantsTimestamp: 00:00:49Context: Early in the interview, Venkat expresses profound gratitude for the award, emphasizing his humility in being recognized alongside prominent Java contributors. He references Newton’s quote to highlight that his achievements build on the foundational work of others, acknowledging the mentors and peers who have shaped his career and strengthened the Java community through their contributions.Quote: “I look up so many giants that are in the field and I’m truly humbled for having been recognized. I want to channel in the words of Newton. He said, I see the farthest because I am standing on the shoulders of the giants. I’m very humbled and thankful for the giants that brought me up to here and I couldn’t be here without it.”
Undeserving Yet GratefulTimestamp: 00:02:37Context: After receiving the award, Venkat reflects on feeling unworthy compared to other Java luminaries, many of whom he believes have made more significant contributions. Venkat shares his emotional response to the unexpected honor from Shar. Venkat values diverse community efforts like coding, blogging, and event organization, which underscores his gratitude despite his self-perceived inadequacy.Quote: “I don’t think I was expecting or even feel that I was deserving of it. So I’m very grateful. I don’t think I consider myself as worthy of being recognized compared to the giants I mentioned in the industry today. So I’m very grateful and it was an interesting moment.”
Contributions to User Groups and Conferences
Unsung Heroes of User GroupsTimestamp: 00:07:44Context: Venkat passionately praises Java User Group (JUG) leaders as the backbone of the Java community, recognizing their tireless, often thankless efforts in organizing monthly meetings for years. He details their work in securing speakers, arranging venues, providing food, cleaning up, and more — all done voluntarily to foster learning and networking and community building. These leaders, often unknown beyond their local communities, embody true service and significantly contribute to Java’s vibrant ecosystem.Quote: “These are to me, the unsung heroes of our field. These are the user group leaders. Most people wouldn’t know their names outside of their local community, but these are the people doing hard work every single day. Imagine the effort it takes to organize a user group meeting month after month after month, having a speaker come over, having the attendees show up, having the food for them available, having the facility to clean up after the meeting is over.”
Giving Back Through User GroupsTimestamp: 00:17:47Context: Venkat shares how a scheduling mistake 25 years ago at a Houston Java user group gave him his first speaking opportunity, a pivotal moment that launched his community engagement. Grateful for this serendipitous break, he commits to speaking at around 30 user groups annually, as listed on his website (agiledeveloper.com). He views it as a way to repay the community that elevated his career.Quote: “This is one of the reasons, in all honesty, 25 years later that I speak in approximately 30 or more user groups every single year. If you go to my website, agiledeveloper.com, and you look in the events section, you will see the number of user groups I talk to every single year because that’s, to me, a way to give back to the user groups because that’s what I started.”
Conferences and Broad ReachTimestamp: 00:18:25Context: Venkat attributes part of his recognition to his extensive speaking at approximately 45 conferences yearly, reaching diverse audiences from aspiring developers to seasoned experts. His talks cover deep technical details, career advice, and Java innovations — all of which creates creating a broad “surface area” of impact. This prolific engagement, driven by his enthusiasm, likely contributed to his award, connecting him with developers worldwide.Quote: “I speak in roughly about, I don’t even count, but I’m going to say maybe 45 or more conferences a year. So I think that’s part of the reason for the recognition is the amount of… the surface area that I can touch. I can touch the surface area of young developers, aspiring programmers, seasoned professionals, all the way to experts with my interaction in the industry by way of conferences, user groups, university, consulting, writing books.”
Everyone Needs a BreakTimestamp: 00:14:00Context: Venkat recalls a defining moment 25 years ago when a calendar error by a Houston Java user group organizer allowed him to speak on a non-teaching night. This led to an invitation to the No Fluff, Just Stuff conference, connecting him with industry giants like Jason Hunter and James Duncan Davidson, marking a turning point in his career through serendipity.Quote: “Everybody needs a break. If you don’t get a break, you could have the potential, but you need that first break, right? It’s like the actors who always tell you, well, I was in acting school and I was interested in acting, but here’s where I got a first break. Well, I got my first break in the Java User Group.”
Teaching and Sharing Knowledge
Teaching as LearningTimestamp: 00:39:16Context: Near the end of the interview, Venkat articulates his teaching philosophy, emphasizing its reciprocal nature. As a part-time professor for 34 years, he views himself as the “first student” in his classes, learning from student questions and interactions. This approach fuels his growth and reinforces his commitment to sharing practical knowledge with students, helping them navigate their careers.Quote: “I teach because I learn. And I always say I’m the first student in my classes. So collaborate, bring other developers because you end up learning by doing [more] so than being in isolation in solving your problems.”
Sharing ExcitementTimestamp: 00:03:16Context: Early in the discussion, Venkat explains his shift in focus from seeking recognition to prioritizing learning and sharing knowledge. He describes how, in his late twenties, he realized that true reward lies in daily learning and helping others grow, a mindset that drives his prolific contributions to the Java community through technical talks, writing books, and teaching students and professional developers.Quote: “If our mind is focused on learning, and then sharing what we learn, then we are not focused on where we get the recognition from. The reward is when I wake up in the morning and feel like I have learned something more than I did the day before. And then I go to bed knowing that maybe I helped somebody else along the way to learn something more than they did.”
Venkat’s Company and Solo PathTimestamp: 00:10:06Context: Venkat shares his transformative decision to leave his day job and, after four years, fire himself from his own company. He realized that he was a technologist at heart, not a business person. This shift allowed him to focus on learning, tinkering with technologies, and sharing insights through talks and books — all of which aligned with his true passion.Quote: “I quit working in a day job several decades ago and I started my own company and only to realize after about four or five years running my company to realize that I’m not a business person. I’m a technologist, and I realized that what I truly enjoy is learning about stuff, tinkering with technologies, trying to come up with reasons about why things work and how they should be implemented, and then to turn around and be able to share that and coach people doing it.”
Long-Term Teaching CommitmentTimestamp: 00:13:08Context: Venkat discusses his 34-year tenure as a part-time university professor, emphasizing that his goal isn’t academic status but instead sharing practical knowledge in the industry. By teaching evenings, he bridges his professional experiences with academia, helping students learn career approaches and professional skills, contributing to their development as future Java developers.Quote: “I’m into my 34th year of teaching at the university. All these 34 years, part-time, I moonlight. I’ve never been [on the] tenured track or in a position to be tenured. I don’t want to be tenured. My goal is not to be a professor. My goal is to teach students about things they can learn, how to learn, how to approach their careers.”
Venkat’s Book MotivationTimestamp: 00:11:58Context: Venkat explains his motivation for writing books like Cruising Along with Java recently. He was initially hesitant but driven by a desire to share stories about technology nuances. Unlike writing for business promotion, he finds excitement in conveying discoveries about languages or design methods, using books and conferences as platforms to educate and inspire developers.Quote: “The one reason to write a book is to maybe promote yourself and promote your business. But to me, a bigger reason to write a book is I’ve got a story to tell. And that’s what excites me about writing books. Almost every book I’ve written since then, I started writing the book because I have a story to tell. I discover a nuance in a language or in a library or in a method of designing, and I want to speak that.”
Knowledge Grows When GivenTimestamp: 00:38:08Context: While offering advice, Venkat emphasizes that sharing knowledge benefits both the giver and the receiver. He describes how teaching prompts self-reflection and leads to new questions, often leading him to take notes during conversations to explore topics further. This reinforces his belief that knowledge, unlike money, grows through sharing, enriching all parties involved.Quote: “I often say that knowledge is a wealth that grows when it’s given. You know, if I give you $10, I’m poorer by $10. But if I share with you a little bit of what I know, I never give you what I know because as I’m talking to you, I’m going to start thinking, do I understand this really well? Or you are asking a question and that immediately triggers in my mind, oh my gosh, I need to really go in and look at that a little bit more because that’s a question I haven’t thought through much.”
Java Evolution and Features
Java 25 ExcitementsTimestamp: 00:20:20Context: When asked about Java 25, set for release in September 2025, Venkat expresses enthusiasm for features like structured concurrency, scoped values, pattern matching, and the instance main method. He is particularly excited about structured concurrency’s foundation on virtual threads for solving divide-and-conquer problems, pattern matching’s evolving syntax for expressive coding, and the instance main method’s role in simplifying Java for newcomers.Quote: “There are actually a few things that are new and maybe even evolving that I’m truly excited about. There are several features, and I don’t want to lessen any one of them by mentioning a few. But I think one of the things I’ve been keeping my eyes on very closely as it’s going through the development is the structured concurrency and scoped values. The pattern matching syntax as it’s been evolving, I think it’s very interesting to see the instance of, for the primitive types, I think that’s pretty exciting, very useful as well. The other thing that I’m keeping my eyes on pretty nicely evolving is the compact source files and instance main method.”
Structured Concurrency and Virtual ThreadsTimestamp: 00:20:39Context: Venkat elaborates on his excitement for Java 25’s structured concurrency, a feature built on virtual threads introduced in earlier releases. He explains that this feature addresses complex divide-and-conquer problems, making it a significant advancement for experienced developers writing production code. His enthusiasm stems from closely following its development, seeing it as a powerful tool to enhance Java’s concurrency capabilities for robust, scalable applications.Quote: “Structured concurrency is in a way built on top of virtual threads, which is another exciting feature for me. But structured concurrency is solving a set of problems that are very exciting to solve, divide and conquer problems and so on. So I’ve been keeping an eye on that quite a bit.”
Incremental Changes and 6-Month CycleTimestamp: 00:29:02Context: Venkat praises Java’s six-month release cycle for its agile, incremental approach, allowing developers to benefit from features like pattern matching as they evolve. He contrasts this with long waits for major releases, noting that incremental updates enable faster adoption and adaptation, aligning with agile development principles and benefiting programmers.Quote: “You are able to come back and keep adding more capabilities to it is much better than saying you wait for eight years to get everything versus you can get them incrementally every six months. I think that’s more beneficial to developers. I feel that’s more agile in a lot of ways as well. So that’s what I mean by evolutionary is you can reap the benefits along the way rather than having to wait a long time to get them all.”
Evolving for Next GenerationTimestamp: 00:21:56Context: Discussing Java 25’s instance main method, Venkat explains its significance in simplifying the onboarding process for new developers. He contrasts the complexity faced by early Java adopters from C and C++ backgrounds with today’s newcomers, who find Java’s initial learning curve daunting, making features like instance main crucial for accessibility.Quote: “The instance main method is something I’m really, really super excited about. I’ve been a critique of this for years earlier, that when you start getting introduced to Java, it’s like being hit by a bus. You have to learn about so many things that you don’t need to know right now just to even start with the hello world. I think that main method feature is something I really truly respect as well.”
Pattern Matching EvolutionTimestamp: 00:27:06Context: Venkat uses an analogy to Captain America to describe the incremental evolution of Java’s pattern matching syntax, from a simple switch statement to a robust feature. He recalls a conversation with Brian Goetz, Java Language Architect at Oracle, who outlined delivering pattern matching in “three installments,” a process that has extended but exemplifies Java’s thoughtful, iterative development.Quote: “This purely little switch statement, look at how it turned into this powerful pattern matching syntax. So I relate the pattern matching syntax to Captain America’s evolution. I wrote the book recently called Cruising Along with Java. And as you can see that I get excited, I talk about, I’m a person of analogies. So when I started talking about pattern matching in the book, I gave the example of Steve Rogers, who was this puny little guy who didn’t have much strength, failed being in an army. And then they treat him with the serum. And then he turns into this powerful Captain America.”
Advice for Developers
Advice for StudentsTimestamp: 00:33:50Context: Offering advice to students, Venkat stresses the importance of reaching out to mentors and engaging in face-to-face conversations, urging students to keep cameras on during virtual meetings for richer interactions. He shares how he provides Zoom links to students, encouraging them to ask beyond technical questions to learn about careers and conferences, accelerating their growth.Quote: “If you’re a student, the first thing I would say is reach out to people. Reach out to people and have conversations with them. I can’t tell you how many times I tell my students, here’s my Zoom link. I tell them, here’s a link. You click on it. I pop in like a genie and I’m going to talk to you. Make use of that, I tell my students all the time. The other thing I actually sincerely say that is keep your cameras on. The conversation is very different when you’re able to see the other person.”
Advice for Senior DevelopersTimestamp: 00:37:18Context: Addressing senior developers, Venkat encourages collaboration with junior developers, especially in the context of using AI tools. He sees this as a mutual learning opportunity, where seniors impart critical thinking and fundamentals, while juniors introduce new tools and techniques, fostering a collaborative environment that benefits both parties in today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape.Quote: “This is an opportunity for you, the senior developer, to engage the junior developers into more collaborative development. And by doing so, I always say it’s got to be a benefit for everybody, otherwise we’re not going to do it. So the young developers begin to learn that proper thinking and critical thinking is important. They’re going to be able to learn that from you, the senior developer. But as a senior developer, you also quickly begin to learn that there are tools and techniques you’re not aware of, but these young developers are able to drag them in because they’re so quick in looking at different things.”
AI as a ToolTimestamp: 00:36:35Context: Discussing the role of AI in development, Venkat cautions that while AI is a powerful tool, it cannot replace strong fundamentals. He uses an analogy of misusing a lawnmower to highlight the need for careful application, urging senior developers to guide juniors in balancing AI’s capabilities with critical thinking and foundational knowledge.Quote: “AI is a powerful tool, but we gotta be careful using it. When you have young developers on your team who feel like they can do anything they want because they have these tools, what they don’t understand is that’s not a substitute for having good fundamentals. This is an opportunity for you, the senior developer, to engage the junior developers into more collaborative development.”
Interview Archive
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