When building a Spring Boot application, adding validation is crucial for input handling. By utilizing the Jakarta Bean Validation specification, along with the Hibernate Validator, you can enforce input restrictions in both Controller and Service. By adhering to OpenAPI specific … | Continue reading
Structurizr is a tool that helps visualize and maintain software architecture diagrams as code. It provides features like version control, error checking, and reviews. To create a system landscape, Structurizr can be used with DSL or Java, but it requires careful setup and involv … | Continue reading
Structurizr offers a code-based approach for creating and managing C4 model architecture diagrams, addressing common challenges with traditional diagramming tools. It supports easy tracking and visualization of diagram changes through version control. This blog covers installatio … | Continue reading
In this blog, the implementation of Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) using Weaviate, LangChain4j, and LocalAI is explored. The setup involves embedding documents in Weaviate, performing semantic searches, creating prompts, and using a local Large Language Model (LLM) to extra … | Continue reading
This blog post introduces Weaviate, a vector database, and explores using it for semantic search. It explains the installation and connection to Weaviate, embedding documents, managing collections, semantic search, and exploring collections. With improved data structure and vecto … | Continue reading
This post delves into the process of embedding documents for semantic search, using examples to demonstrate its impact and methods for improvement. The author analyzes the influence of the source data and its embedding on search results, primarily using two Wikipedia documents on … | Continue reading
This blog post explores the use of LangChain4j and LocalAI for chatting with documents, including prompt engineering techniques. Five questions are initially asked and answered without documents, revealing inaccuracies. Documents are later incorporated, resulting in mostly correc … | Continue reading
This post discusses integrating Large Language Model (LLM) capabilities into Java applications using LangChain4j. It covers using LocalAI, provides examples, and explores chatting with documents. It emphasizes the need for continuous technology updates. Overall, it highlights the … | Continue reading
In this post, you will take a closer look at LocalAI, an open source alternative to OpenAI which allows you to run LLM’s on your local machine. No GPU is needed, consumer grade hardware will suffice. Enjoy! 1. Introduction OpenAI is a great tool. However, you may not be allowed t … | Continue reading
In this blog, you will learn how to monitor a Spring Boot application using Ostara. Ostara is a desktop application which monitors and manages your application. Enjoy! 1. Introduction When an application runs in production (but also your other environments), it is wise to monitor … | Continue reading
The 19th of September 2023, Java 21 was released. Time to take a closer look at the changes since the last LTS release, which is Java 17. In this blog, some of the changes between Java 17 and Java 21 are highlighted, mainly by means of examples. Enjoy! 1. Introduction First of al … | Continue reading
In October 2023, I visited Devoxx Belgium and again it was an awesome event! I learned a lot and received quite some information which I do not want to withhold from you. In this blog, you can find my takeaways of Devoxx Belgium 2023! 1. Introduction Devoxx Belgium is the largest … | Continue reading
Are you also struggling keeping the documentation of your Spring configuration properties in line with the code? In this blog, you will take a look at the Spring Configuration Property Documenter Maven plugin, which solves this issue for you. Enjoy! 1. Introduction Almost every S … | Continue reading
In this blog, you will take a closer look at Podman Desktop, a graphical tool when you are working with containers. Enjoy! 1. Introduction Podman is a container engine, just as Docker is. Podman commands are to be executed by means of a CLI (Command Line Interface), but it would … | Continue reading
Do you also get lost in the configuration annotations of Spring Boot and how to use them? In this blog, you will take a look at the configuration annotations, what they mean and how you can apply them in your code. Everything explained by means of examples. Enjoy! 1. Introduction … | Continue reading
In this blog, you will take a look at Podman Compose. With Podman Compose, you can use compose files according to the Compose Spec in combination with a Podman backend. Enjoy! 1. Introduction A good starting point and a must read is this blog provided by RedHat. In short, Podman … | Continue reading
In this blog, you will learn how to use Podman with the built-in equivalent for Docker Compose. You will learn how to use Podman ‘kube play’ and how to deploy your Podman Pod to a local Minikube cluster. Enjoy! 1. Introduction First reactions to the short intro will be: “you need … | Continue reading
At many places you can read that Podman is a drop-in replacement for Docker. But is it as easy as it sounds? In this blog, you will start with a production-ready Dockerfile and execute the Podman commands just like you would do when using Docker. Let’s investigate whether this wo … | Continue reading
In this blog, you will learn how to backup and restore a PostgreSQL database. Enjoy! 1. Introduction Some time ago, I needed to backup a PostgreSQL database from a production server in order to be able to fix a problem which was difficult to reproduce in the test environment. It … | Continue reading
In this blog, you will learn more about JHipster and how it can help you with developing modern web applications. Enjoy! 1. Introduction JHipster is a development platform which helps you to quickly set up an application. It goes beyond setting up a project structure: JHipster wi … | Continue reading
How come that some people have a hard time finishing a small number of tasks while other are able to do a lot of work in a limited amount of time? It all has to do with how you manage your time. If you can do so effectively, you can do a lot more than […] | Continue reading
In this post, you will learn how to create a Docker image for your GraalVM native image. By means of some hands-on experiments, you will learn that it is a bit more tricky than what you are used to when creating Docker images. Enjoy! 1. Introduction In a previous post, you learne … | Continue reading
In this blog, you will learn how to build a GraalVM image for your Spring Boot application. Following these practical steps, you will be able to apply them to your own Spring Boot application. Enjoy! 1. Introduction Java is a great programming language and is platform independent … | Continue reading
In this blog, you will learn the basics of Ansible Roles. With Ansible Roles, you can reuse Ansible content you create and share them with other users. You will learn about Ansible Roles step-by-step by means of examples. Enjoy! 1. Introduction In the three previous Ansible posts … | Continue reading
A Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) is getting more and more important in the software supply chain. In this blog, you will learn what an SBOM is and how to build the SBOM in an automated way. Enjoy! 1. Introduction An SBOM is a list of software components that makes up a softwar … | Continue reading
In this blog, you will learn how to setup a Maven multi-module project which consists out of a Spring Boot backend and a Vue.js frontend. The application itself will not be created, only the setup of the project is covered in this blog. Enjoy! 1. Introduction Many applications co … | Continue reading
Regularily checking for vulnerabilities in your pipeline is very important. One of the steps to execute is to perform a vulnerability scan of your Docker images. In this blog, you will learn how to perform the vulnerability scan, how to fix the vulnerabilities and how to add it t … | Continue reading
In this blog, you will learn some Docker best practices mainly focussed on Spring Boot applications. You will learn these practices by applying them to a sample application. Enjoy! 1. Introduction This blog continues where the previous blog about Docker Best Practices left off. H … | Continue reading
In this blog, you will learn some Docker best practices mainly focussed on Java applications. This is not only a theoretical exercise, but you will learn how to apply the best practices to your Dockerfiles. Enjoy! 1. Introduction Writing Dockerfiles seems easy: just pick an examp … | Continue reading
In this post, you will learn how to create an Ansible playbook. As an exercise, you will install an Apache Webserver onto two target machines and change the welcome page. 1. Introduction In the two previous Ansible posts, you learned how to setup an Ansible test environment and h … | Continue reading
In October 2022, I visited Devoxx Belgium after two cancelled editions due to COVID-19. I learned a lot and received quite some information which I do not want to withhold from you. In this blog, you can find my takeaways of Devoxx Belgium 2022! 1. Introduction Devoxx Belgium is … | Continue reading
Encountered a ‘Permission Denied’ error on a file copied to a Docker image or when accessing a file on a mounted volume within a Docker container? In this blog, you will learn why you g… | Continue reading
This blog is a special edition because it is my 100th blog! I will explain what this blog has given me in the past five years. If you are planning to start a blog of yourself, you may use this list of benefits in order to get you motivated to get started. 1. Introduction In […] | Continue reading
In this post, you will learn how to set up a basic Ansible Inventory. Besides that, you will learn how to encrypt sensitive information by means of Ansible Vault. Enjoy! 1. Introduction In a previous post, you learned how to set up an Ansible test environment. In this post, you w … | Continue reading
In this blog, I will explain how I passed the AWS Certified Developer – Associate exam. This might help you in your journey to pass the exam. Enjoy! 1. Why? First of all, why did I want to pass the exam? It all started when I wrote a blog how to create a deployment pipeline […] | Continue reading
When you want to experiment with Ansible, you will need to setup a test environment. In this blog, you will create a test environment containing one controller and two target machines. This will give you a good setup for experimenting with Ansible without breaking a real machine. … | Continue reading
Are you also often uninspired when you need to think of useful test data for your unit tests? Is ‘John Doe’ your best test friend? Do not worry, Java Faker comes to the rescue! In this blog, you will learn how to generate your test data. 1. Introduction Making up test data is one … | Continue reading
In this blog, you will learn how to manage several Java Development Kits (JDKs) on your Linux system using SDKMAN. Besides JDKs, several other SDKs can be managed by means of SDKMAN. Enjoy! 1. Introduction Some time ago, a colleague of mine showed me how he used SDKMAN and how ea … | Continue reading
The 14th of September Java 17 was released. Time to take a closer look at the changes since the last LTS release, which is Java 11. A short introduction is given about the licensing model and after… | Continue reading
In this blog, you will get a short introduction into AWS Step Functions. You will also create a workflow from scratch with a lambda. The output of the lambda will be transformed so that it can be used in the workflow. 1. Introduction AWS Step Functions is a low-code, visual workf … | Continue reading
In this blog, I will show you how I got started with Vaadin Flow. With Vaadin Flow, you can create web apps without HTML or JavaScript, but entirely with Java. Let’s get started! 1. Introduction For some time, I have been curious about Vaadin Flow. I am not very good in frontend … | Continue reading
In this blog, the AWS Serverless Application Model (AWS SAM) is introduced. You will learn what SAM is and where it can be used for. You will also get your hands dirty, because you will create an AWS SAM project from scratch. Enjoy! 1. Introduction AWS SAM is, according to the of … | Continue reading