

airhacks.fm podcast with adam bien
Adam Bien
Java, Serverless, Clouds, Architecture and Web conversations with Adam Bien
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 21, 2025 • 1h 12min
Not Your Java Package Handler
In this conversation, Billy Korando, a member of Oracle's Java team, delves into his tech journey, from gaming nostalgia with the Apple IIe to his pivotal year as a FedEx package handler. He discusses the evolution of Java and the misconceptions around microservices, emphasizing the necessity of robust coding practices. Billy highlights the importance of automated testing with JUnit 5 and shares insights on Java performance optimization with tools like Java Flight Recorder. His experiences at the Kansas City Developers Conference and reviving JavaOne reveal his passion for community engagement.

Jun 17, 2025 • 1h 6min
From Punch Cards (and Tapes) to Java
Maurice Naftalin, a chemist turned programmer and early Java adopter, shares fascinating insights from his career. He reminisces about his first computer, the expensive Shelton Signet, and the early days of programming with punch cards and paper tape. Maurice highlights his experiences teaching Pascal and programming at British Steel, and discusses the evolution of software and formal methods. His journeys illustrate the dramatic transformation in technology and the innovative spirit that has driven computing forward since the 1970s.

4 snips
Jun 7, 2025 • 57min
Injection Without Reflection
In this conversation, David Kral, a software engineer and Helidon contributor, dives into the innovative features of Helidon SE. He discusses build-time dependency injection, eliminating reflection for enhanced performance. Kral explains the use of code generation for better debugging and ownership, plus the perks of using standard JSR-330 annotations for portability. He also covers compatibility with GraalVM, the value of a customizable service registry, and the exciting future of Helidon Declarative, set for a full release.

Jun 1, 2025 • 1h 6min
About Amazon Corretto
Join Volker Simonis, a key contributor to the Amazon Corretto team and OpenJDK, as he dives into the exciting world of Java enhancements. He explains Corretto's multi-platform support and the rigorous certification process it undergoes. Discover Amazon’s innovative features like async logging and Project Lilliput, which notably reduces memory usage. Volker also compares garbage collectors Shenandoah and ZGC, shares insights on the Graal compiler, and highlights Amazon’s pivotal role in the OpenJDK community, making waves in Java performance and security.

May 25, 2025 • 1h 14min
Building Immutable Release Pipelines with Hashgraph
Richard Bair, a Hashgraph expert and former Oracle employee, shares his insights on innovative blockchain applications for enterprise. He discusses the potential of Hashgraph to create immutable release pipelines, enhancing software supply chain verification. The conversation also explores the dynamics of live demos at Java events, the benefits of using mirror nodes for data queries, and how decentralized systems can improve compliance through transparent auditing. Bair highlights the exciting future of Java and Hashgraph technologies in the software industry.

May 18, 2025 • 1h 11min
Accelerating LLMs with TornadoVM: From GPU Kernels to Model Inference
Juan Fumero, a Software Engineer and contributor to TornadoVM, dives into the world of GPU acceleration and Java. He shares his insights on how TornadoVM enables efficient data parallelization and optimizes large language models like Llama3. The discussion highlights innovative features such as dynamic hardware reconfiguration, tensor types for FP8 and FP16, and the potential for model quantization. Fumero also touches on the integration possibilities with Project Babylon, emphasizing Java's growing role in enterprise applications for LLMs.

May 11, 2025 • 1h 2min
Run Java with Java
In this discussion, Christian Humer from Oracle Labs shares insights on Java's potential as a systems programming language and his bachelor thesis on a Java bytecode interpreter. He explains the innovative C1X compiler, the de-optimization process in JIT compilation, and the fascinating concept of a domain-specific language for efficient bytecode generation. Christian also dives into GraalVM's security features, like sandboxing untrusted code, and highlights the power of TRegex for optimizing regex performance in Java applications. It's a deep dive into the future of Java technology!

May 4, 2025 • 1h 4min
LittleHorse Likes Sun
Colt McNealy, CEO of LittleHorse and expert in distributed microservices, shares his journey from programming in high school to creating an open-source workflow orchestration engine. He discusses his early computing experiences with Sun workstations, the genesis of LittleHorse from real-world challenges, and its advantages over traditional systems like AWS Step Functions. Colt also delves into the nuances of event-driven architectures, performance metrics of his tool, and the legacy of Sun Microsystems, blending nostalgia with cutting-edge technology insights.

Apr 27, 2025 • 1h 7min
Apache Storm, Disruptor, JCTools and Linearizability
Francesco Nigro, a software engineer and JCTools contributor, shares his insights on concurrent programming and performance optimization in Java. He discusses the evolution of JCTools and its contributions to efficient data structures, including weight-free queues. The conversation highlights JCTools’ advantages over standard Java collections, the nuances of linearizability, and the differences between lock-free and wait-free algorithms. Additionally, they delve into Apache Storm’s event processing capabilities and the importance of memory management in achieving high throughput.

Apr 21, 2025 • 1h
Opensource and JVM Ports
Volker Simonis, from the Amazon Corretto team and a former SAP expert, shares insights on the fascinating world of carnivorous plants, detailing their unique hunting methods. He dives deep into SAP’s struggles with Java integration and the complexities of porting Sun's Hotspot JVM across various platforms. Volker also discusses JVM internals, including inlining and deoptimization. His transition to Amazon and his interest in GraalVM highlight the evolving landscape of Java development and open-source contributions.