IN-PERSON: Apache Kafka® Meetup Glasgow - March 2024

Join us for an Apache Kafka® meetup on Thursday, March 7th from 5:30pm in Glasgow hosted by BJSS!

📍Venue:
BJSS, 1st floor, 180 West George Street, G2 2NR

NOTE: for any accessibility concerns, please email community@confluent.io

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🗓 Agenda:

• 5:30pm: Doors open/Welcome
• 5:30pm - 6:00pm: Food, Drinks & Networking
• 6:00pm - 6:45pm: Vincent De Rijcke, Development Tech Lead, BJSS London
• 7:00pm - 7:30pm: Niamh Thornbury, Customer Innovation Engineer II, Confluent
• 7:30pm - 8:00pm: Additional Q&A & Networking

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💡 Speaker One:
Vincent De Rijcke, Development Tech Lead, BJSS London

Title of Talk:
Hot reloading certificates in Kafka Java client

Abstract:
When enabling Mutual TLS authentication in your Kafka deployment you quickly feel the need to automate the refresh of certificates, especially the short-lived ones recommended by security best practices.
Although Kafka handles the server side transparently, the client side is left as an exercise to the user. The generation and physical distribution of the certificates to clients is generally easy to sort out, but getting the code to use it without hitting the redeploy button is another matter.

There are many ways to skin that poor cat with Kafka Java client, this talk focuses on using a custom JSSE Provider that detects and reconfigures Java SSL stack on certificate change. This allows certificate to be reloaded without redeployment, and without rebalancing. In addition, it can be retrofitted with minimal code change on a variety of library and java versions.

Bio:
Vincent is an experienced lead software engineer with over 20 years of experience delivering a wide range of applications.
In his favourite part of the day, he is a Backend developer specialising in Java ecosystem: Java 17+, Spring Boot, Hibernate, Junit-Mockito, TDD, CI / CD, Git and many more buzzwords.

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💡 Speaker Two:
Niamh Thornbury, Customer Innovation Engineer II, Confluent

Title of Talk:
Simplifying Kafka Client Interfaces: Unlocking the Potential of Real-Time Data Processing

Abstract:
In the realm of event-driven architecture and real-time data processing, Apache Kafka stands as a tall and powerful figure, providing an efficient and scalable solution for handling large volumes of data streams in real-time. However, for developers, interfacing with Kafka producers and consumers can often feel like navigating a labyrinth of complexities.

Streamlining Kafka's client interfaces not only eases the burden on developers but also accelerates development cycles, minimizes errors, and enhances the overall Kafka experience. In an era where data-driven applications are paramount, simplifying Kafka interfaces is not just a convenience; it's a necessity. We'll explore how these improvements can boost productivity, reduce the learning curve, and make Kafka more accessible to a broader developer community.

This talk delves into the imperative task of simplifying the client interface for Kafka, exploring the "why" and "how." You'll gain insights into creating a more developer-friendly Kafka ecosystem that can unlock the full potential of real-time data processing for your projects and benefit the entire developer community.

Bio:
Niamh is a Customer Innovation Engineer who joined Confluent in October 2021. Niamh enjoys spending time with her dog Flo, running and going to the gym.

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DISCLAIMER
BY ATTENDING THIS EVENT IN PERSON, you acknowledge that risk includes possible exposure to and illness from infectious diseases including COVID-19, and accept responsibility for this, if it occurs.
NOTE: We are unable to cater for any attendees under the age of 18.

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If you would like to speak or host our next event please let us know! community@confluent.io