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Markus Westergren

@maswen.bsky.social

95 followers 110 following 190 posts

I’m helping professional Java back-end developers like you write maintainable code so that you can become a sought-after expert in the software industry.

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Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · Nov 16

I wrote this e-book to help developers grow with the help of mentors. sendfox.com/lp/1xz4v5
#mentoring #developer

The Empathetic Developer

LOW HANGING MENTORSHIP As a senior developer, you have likely acquired a wealth of technical knowledge and honed your skills through years of experience. However, even the most seasoned professionals...

sendfox.com

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 3h

Our @devoxx.com talk ”A Developers Search for Meaning” is now published
youtu.be/Jo5mOBRr2b4?...

A Developer's Search for Meaning: Thriving as AI Transforms Our World by Elma Westergren, Markus W

YouTube video by Devoxx

youtu.be

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 4h

Great meeting you again @susivic.bsky.social!

Reposted by Markus Westergren

Devoxx Belgium @devoxx.com · 18h

All talks from days 1 to 4 of #Devoxx Belgium are now available on our YouTube channel! 🎥
Catch up on any sessions you missed 👇
www.youtube.com/watch?v=30qK...

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Reposted by Markus Westergren

Akka @akka.io · 1d

Elma Westergren, @maswen.bsky.social, sending good energy for the talk ahead!

Java builds the mind
Architect guides smart agents
AI shepherd leads
#Devoxx #Akka #room7

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Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 11d

Sometimes we solve problems that have already been solved. During a big refactoring, I wanted to merge changes incrementally. After experimenting, I rediscovered what @martinfowler.com called "Branch by Abstraction" in 2014. Good practices never get old! #Refactoring martinfowler.com/bliki/Branch...

bliki: Branch By Abstraction

Branch by Abstraction" is a technique for making a large-scale change to a software system in gradual way that allows you to release the system regularly while the change is still in-progress.

martinfowler.com

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 14d

#Jfokus 2026 CFP closes in 5 days! I know speaking can feel scary. But it's worth it. You'll grow as a developer, meet amazing people, and help others learn from your experience. The Java community needs your voice. Submit that proposal! 🚀
#Java #CFP www.jfokus.se/hero.html

Call for Speakers - Jfokus Developers Conference

www.jfokus.se

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Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · 25d

Tomorrow Java 25 arrives! After 25+ years with Java, I'm still excited by each release. It is packed with features that make development more enjoyable and the code more maintainable. Which Java 25 feature are you most looking forward to?
#Java25 #Java

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Reposted by Markus Westergren

Jfokus @jfokus.se · Sep 9

Meet the Jfokus 2026 Program Committee 🙌
They’re already rating the amazing talks submitted so far.
⏰ CfS closes Sept 30 — only 3 weeks left! Submit your talk 👉 jfokus.se/iamahero

#Jfokus #CallforSpeakers

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Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · Sep 8

Had the privilege to review "Modern Concurrency in Java" by @bazlur.ca . From basic threads to virtual threads and structured concurrency, it builds concepts step by step. Perfect for Java devs wanting to truly understand concurrent systems. Highly recommended! #Java www.amazon.com/Modern-Concu...

Modern Concurrency in Java: A Deep Dive into Virtual Threads, Structured Concurrency, and Scoped Values

Modern Concurrency in Java: A Deep Dive into Virtual Threads, Structured Concurrency, and Scoped Values [Rahman, A N M Bazlur] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Modern Concurrency in Java: A Deep Dive into Virtual Threads, Structured Concurrency, and Scoped Values

www.amazon.com

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Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · Sep 3

Tested our app with #Java 25 early release and #Quarkus 3.26.1 today. Found no issues! We all depend on open source, so testing early releases is how we give back. Plus, no surprises when upgrading later. What are you doing to support the projects you use? #OpenSource

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Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · Aug 31

Struggling to name a variable or method? That's your code telling you something. Good names make code readable, but when naming is hard, it often signals design problems. Maybe that method does too much, or you're missing an abstraction. Listen to that struggle, it's valuable feedback.

Reposted by Markus Westergren

Todd Ginsberg @todd.ginsberg.com · Aug 28

As a JUG leader, I sure hope in-person events aren't dying off, but it sure seems like it's getting harder and harder to keep this all going.

www.brentozar.com/archive/2025...

Why Aren't People Going to Local and Regional In-Person Events Anymore? - Brent Ozar Unlimited®

Steve Jones recently posted an update about SQL Saturday’s status, and it includes some news we need to talk about: However, this year the number may stagnate or even decline slightly. Running events ...

www.brentozar.com

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Reposted by Markus Westergren

Devoxx Belgium @devoxx.com · Aug 28

📅 The wait is over: the #Devoxx Belgium 2025 schedule is out!
Plan your week, pick your favourites ❤️https://m.devoxx.com/events/dvbe25/schedule

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Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · Aug 27

Proper encapsulation isn't about hiding data. It's about reducing cognitive load. When you can trust a class manages its own state, your brain can focus on business logic instead of tracking side effects. Less mental overhead = more maintainable code.

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · Aug 26

Good abstraction in Java lets us focus on the business problem, not implementation details. When we use List we think about users, not array resizing. That's the power of abstraction: reducing cognitive load so our brains can solve what matters. #Java #CleanCode

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Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · Aug 24

Context switching kills productivity. Research shows it takes 23 minutes to regain focus after interruption. Batch similar tasks, turn off notifications during deep work, document your thought process. Your brain will thank you. #DeveloperProductivity

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · Aug 21

When requirements change, don't force new needs into old designs. That urge to add "special handling"? It's your code telling you the model no longer fits reality. Better to redesign now than face a bigger mess later. Every special case today is tomorrow's maintenance nightmare. #Java #CleanCode

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Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · Aug 19

JFokus CFP is open! Remember my first conference talk? I was terrified. But sharing knowledge transforms both you and others. Your debugging breakthrough last week? Someone needs to hear it. Start with a 10-minute lightning talk. Every expert speaker started exactly where you are today. #JFokus

aifokus.bsky.social @aifokus.bsky.social · Aug 19

Jfokus 2026 Call for Speaker is open!
Submit today www.jfokus.se/iamahero

Jfokus 2026 • 2–4 February 2026 • Stockholm, Sweden

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · Aug 17

Stepping away from the keyboard makes you a better developer. Your brain needs rest to process what you've learned. Take that walk. Read that fiction book. Play with your kids. The code will still be there, and you'll solve it faster.

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Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · Aug 15

Flaky tests are like unreliable friends. They fail randomly, work fine on your machine but not in CI. When every test failure gets blamed on flakiness, we stop trusting our tests. Fix them fast or lose confidence in your safety net. Your future self will thank you.
#JavaDev #Testing #CleanCode

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · Aug 14

As senior developers, are we struggling to mentor juniors because abstractions have gone too far? The fundamentals remain the same, but what we prioritize has shifted. We need to focus on problem-solving and understanding patterns, not just syntax. What matters most in 2025? #Java #Mentoring

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Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · Aug 13

Speaking at Devoxx Belgium about thriving as developers in the AI era! Help shape our talk by sharing your experience in this 5-min quiz: forms.gle/Ys3fhPQtpf5A...
You'll get a report with insights from the community. Your voice matters! #DevoxxBE #AI #JavaCommunity

Exploring occupational identity in the age of AI

Help us understand how AI is transforming developer purpose and meaning. We're presenting at Devoxx Belgium 2025, and your anonymous 5-minute response will directly shape our talk and help fellow de...

forms.gle

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Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · Aug 12

Big refactoring? Start with a spike to experiment. This helps identify smaller tasks that unblock the bigger change. Run old and new solutions side by side, deploy incrementally. No long-lived branches needed. Small wins build momentum. #Java #Refactoring #CodingTips #SoftwareDevelopment

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Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · Aug 11

Growth mindset changed everything for me as a developer. Every bug became a learning opportunity, every code review became knowledge sharing, every failure became a stepping stone. When you see challenges as chances to grow, your entire career transforms. #GrowthMindset #Learning

Markus Westergren @maswen.bsky.social · Aug 10

Excellence requires deliberate practice, not just passive learning. We can watch 10,000 hours of cooking videos but won't become chefs without actually cooking. Same with coding: build mental models through practice, not just tutorials. Reflect on what you learn, especially when using AI.

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