Original LinkedIn post

Just got back from JCrete® 2026 - what an unforgettable week it has been! I’m incredibly grateful to have been given the opportunity to join this remarkable community. It was wonderful to reconnect with familiar faces, especially with so many people whose talks, channels, books, and work I have followed over the years. While also making new friends, exchanging ideas, and simply spending time together.

JCrete is about much more than just another series of Java sessions and technical discussions. As a small, invitation-only unconference that creates the space for genuine deep dives with real subject-matter experts. Being able to exchange ideas one-on-one with some of the people who helped create the tools and technologies many of us use today was nothing short of amazing.

The format itself is truly unique. Instead of rushing from one crowded, high-level session to the next, participants propose topics, choose what they want to explore, and build the agenda together as the week unfolds. The result is small groups of very experienced people having open, detailed, and sometimes even spirited discussions - and I loved every minute of it.

Beyond the technical side, the social part certainly did not fall short. There were plenty of activities outside the conference rooms, delicious dinners together, and lots of laughter. After all, life does not always have to be about Java and AI; although the latter is becoming increasingly difficult to avoid these days.

I was deeply impressed by the knowledge and expertise of my fellow JCreteans. Learning more about their work and their contributions to the Java ecosystem was not only incredibly insightful but also highly motivating.

While it would be impossible to mention everyone here, I would especially like to thank Heinz Kabutz and all the “disorganizers”: hats off, and a massive thank you for bringing such an extraordinary group of people together and making this week possible. So much fun!

I’m truly grateful for every moment and already looking forward to seeing everyone again.

#JCrete #Java #Unconference #JavaCommunity #Learning #Networking