Talking Kotlin cover image

Talking Kotlin

Creator of Spring: No desire to write Java at All

Mar 27, 2025
Rod Johnson, the creator of the Spring Framework and founder of SpringSource, shares his intriguing journey back to the JVM and his experience with Kotlin. He recounts how Spring was born over two decades ago, emphasizing community collaboration in open-source. Rod finds Kotlin's modern features and readability a refreshing change from Java, highlighting its seamless integration with Spring. The discussions touch on Kotlin's evolving type system and its potential future, making it a fascinating listen for anyone in software development.
01:05:07

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Rod Johnson recounts the creation of the Spring Framework, driven by shortcomings in enterprise solutions and emphasizing dependency injection.
  • He discusses the vital role of a strong business model in sustaining open-source projects like Spring, ensuring innovation and community involvement.

Deep dives

The Origins of Spring Framework

The Spring Framework originated from the challenges faced by developers in enterprise application development during the early 2000s. Rod Johnson, its creator, identified the inadequacies in existing technologies, leading to the development of key concepts like dependency injection. His experiences in consulting and working with complex applications provided valuable insights that shaped Spring's direction. The initial success of Spring was propelled by a unique combination of dedication, luck, and contributions from skilled developers, fostering a professional and supportive community.

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