1. Spring and Java

>> Creating Efficient Docker Images with Spring Boot 2.3 [spring.io]

No more Dockerfiles: Leveraging layered JARs and Buildpacks to create efficient Docker images for Spring Boot applications.

>> Testing Spring Boot applications with Kotlin and Testcontainers [rieckpil.de]

Working effectively with Kotlin and Testcontainers: overcoming the recursive generic type definition and of course, the new @DynamicPropertySource annotation.

>> Spring’s Lightweight JPA/Hibernate Alternatives [4comprehension.com]

And a solid overview of two more lightweight alternatives for Hibernate/JPA: Spring Data JDBC and JDBC Template.

Also worth reading:

Webinars and presentations:

Time to upgrade:

2. Technical

>> Patterns of Distributed Systems: Write-Ahead Log [martinfowler.com]

Meet the Write-Ahead Log (WAL) Pattern: overcoming failures in flushing storage data structures in distributed systems, or any other data-intensive system.

Also worth reading:

3. Musings

>> Date and time gotchas [blog.frankel.ch]

A delightful read on some interesting changes in calendars over centuries: Julian to Gregorian, WWII, 1973 Oil Shock, and many more!

Also worth reading:

4. Comics

And my favorite Dilberts of the week:

>> Social Media Poisoning [dilbert.com]

>> Helpful Advice [dilbert.com]

5. Pick of the Week

>> 5 Steps to Becoming Insanely, Spectacularly, Wildly Successful …Or Whatever [markmanson.net]