Guest: Simon Ritter (LinkedIn)
Company: Azul 
Show: Java Reloaded
Topic: Cloud Native

Java has been one of the world’s most widely used programming languages for more than 25 years, but for many newcomers, the entry point has always been intimidating. In this clip, Simon Ritter, Deputy CTO at Azul, discusses how JDK 25 introduces new features to make Java more approachable while preserving the depth and power that developers love.

One of the key updates in JDK 25 is Compact Source Files, which simplify the process of writing small programs by reducing boilerplate code. New developers can now write their first “Hello World” application without creating an explicit class or verbose main method. Alongside this, Module Import Declarations streamline how dependencies are managed, reducing complexity in initial projects.

While these features lower the barrier to entry, Ritter notes they’re only part of the story. The bigger impact comes from Project Amber, a multi-release initiative aimed at modernizing the Java language itself. By gradually introducing features like pattern matching and type inference, Amber improves readability, maintainability, and developer productivity — not only for beginners but also for professionals building large-scale applications.

Ritter emphasizes that these updates make learning Java less intimidating without dumbing it down. Once developers move beyond simple examples, they still need to grasp object-oriented programming fundamentals like encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism. The goal, he says, isn’t to oversimplify Java but to make it more elegant and efficient to use.

In his view, making Java attractive to new talent requires a balance: lowering the entry barrier while ensuring the language remains robust and future-ready. Azul’s active participation in OpenJDK ensures that these changes keep Java’s ecosystem healthy and evolving.

JDK 25 represents another step in that evolution — one that keeps Java competitive in a world increasingly focused on developer experience. By combining accessibility with depth, Java continues to reaffirm its role as a platform that developers can grow with, from their first line of code to production-scale enterprise systems.