Kotlin Meetup October 2025 @openDEVS

📣 Call for speakers and sponsors 📣 Want to give a talk? Want to host a Meetup? Get in touch -> (here)!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

===Topic===
1st talk: MindCraft: Building Resilience One Line at a Time
As software developers, we often share a passion for gaming and coding, but we are not immune to the mental health challenges that affect many. In this talk, I will explore the intersection of mental health and personal growth through the lens of programming and role-playing games (RPGs). Using Kotlin as a metaphor, I will illustrate how my own mental health journey mirrors the process of developing and refining a class in code, while navigating challenges similar to those faced by an RPG character. The process involves identifying weaknesses in the "code" of the mind, addressing negative thought patterns, and adapting strategies to overcome emotional obstacles such as anxiety, depression, and self-doubt—much like refactoring code or leveling up in an RPG.
Just as in coding, progress in mental health is not linear. Challenges require adjustments and growth, often through trial and error. Each new obstacle demands changes in one's approach, whether in the code or in mindset. Much like an RPG character depends on strong allies to succeed, true friends and family act as essential "party members" in the game of life, offering support, perspective, and encouragement when challenges seem overwhelming.
This talk will highlight the importance of persistence, self-compassion, and the willingness to grow through setbacks. It will encourage individuals to view their own difficulties not as failures but as opportunities for growth, innovation, and adaptation. By applying principles of continuous improvement, both in coding and in life, we can build a more resilient and compassionate approach to mental well-being.
The session also aims to raise awareness about mental health and encourage openness in talking about struggles. Attendees will be urged to seek help when needed, lean on their support networks, and recognize the value of sharing personal challenges. With persistence, self-reflection, and the support of those around us, we can navigate the game of life more effectively and compassionately.

Speaker: Markus Wendland - Software Craftsman at iits consulting
Markus is a seasoned software developer with 30 years of experience, starting as a curious script kiddie and growing into a tech expert. Having witnessed the rapid evolution of the industry, he now shares not only technical insights but also a crucial perspective on mental health in software development. Drawing from his own experiences navigating the highs and lows of a demanding career, Markus delivers honest, thought-provoking talks that encourage open conversations about well-being in tech. His mission is to help developers build not just better software, but also healthier, more sustainable careers.

2nd talk: Efficient Microservices with Kotlin & Spring Boot: Tips and Best Practices
In this talk, I’ll show you how to build microservices efficiently using Kotlin and Spring Boot.
We’ll begin by exploring Kotlin as a drop-in replacement for Java and gradually dive into Kotlin-specific features and libraries that significantly enhance development. The focus will be on best practices for combining Kotlin with Spring Data JPA and Hibernate.
We’ll also take a closer look at Kotlin DSLs for Spring Security and Spring Beans as a sleek alternative to annotation-based configurations. Finally, we’ll cover testing strategies in Kotlin using springmockk and strikt. If time permits, we’ll briefly touch on logging and object mapping as well.

Speaker: Frederik Pietzko - Fullstack Kotlin Enthusiast
Frederik started programming in 8th grade, starting out programming Lego Mindstorms and later learning Java and Python for personal Projects.
15 years later Frederik is a Fullstack-Developer with 7 years of professional experience - 3 of those in Kotlin, developing cloud native applications for multiple big customers in the automotive, logistics and energy sector.
During this time he experimented with a lot of different languages and frameworks, developing a broad understanding of the Software development landscape.
3 years ago he fell in love with Kotlin and has been using it as his primary language since.
In his free time he likes to explore programming langues and frameworks, meet and chat to other software enthusiasts and play with my cats.

===Schedule===
17:40 - Open Doors
18:00 - Welcome & Introduction, Community Interview
18:15 - Talk(s)
19:45 - Networking, Food & Beverages
ca. 21:00 - Close Doors

===How to find us===
openDEVS, Mandlgasse 20/3-5, 1120 Wien