From Docker Containers to AI Models & All you need to know about Maven 4!
Details
Dear Java Community,
Summer-Meetup incoming!
We’re excited to invite you to the next OpenValue Meetup on October 23rd in Düsseldorf!
This evening, we’ll explore how Docker is evolving into the AI space and take a closer look at what’s coming with the long-awaited release of Maven 4.
Join us at our office at Am Wehrhahn 41, 40211 Düsseldorf, and connect with fellow developers who share a passion for software craftsmanship and continuous learning.
We’ll take care of refreshing drinks and tasty food—you just bring your curiosity and questions!
👉 Please RSVP to confirm your attendance.
This time, we are giving away 5 tickets to the JCON Conference 2026 to all participants of the meetup. It will take place from April 21 to April 23 in Cologne. You'll find more information on the JCON website.
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### 🗓️ Agenda
- 17:30 – Doors open / Walk-in
- 18:00 – First Talk
- 18:45 – Break
- 19:00 – Second Talk
- 19:45 – Drinks & Discussions
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### 🎤 Talks
#### From Containers to Models: Docker’s AI Evolution with Model Runner and the Docker Model format
by Kevin Wittek
The current AI wave has taken the industry by storm—and often, it’s easier to ride it than to stand against it. While container technology, especially Docker, has long played a role in AI development, it often felt like an awkward fit. The pieces were there, but assembling them required significant effort.
Building on the work of the open source community, we’ve now integrated powerful inference engines like llama.cpp directly into Docker tooling, including Docker Desktop and Docker CE. To further streamline AI workflows, we’re introducing the "Models as OCI Artifacts Specification"—a new subset of the OCI Artifact format, purpose-built for distributing LLM artifacts. And of course everything done as OSS ourselves.
In this session, you’ll learn how to leverage these new Docker capabilities for GenAI development. I'll show you how to package, publish, and consume your own custom models in the Docker Model format, making them easily accessible via any container registry that supports OCI Artifacts.
#### All you need to know about Maven 4!
by Matthias Bünger
Maven is more than 20 years old, and it's last major version (Maven 3) was released in 2010. Since then Maven got several great updates, but the Maven team also realized that Maven can't evolve further without huge changes which have the capability to break the whole ecosystem if done wrong. Now - after years of intensive planning and coding - the release of Maven 4 is closer than ever before! In this talk I'll speak about the motivation and challenges the team had while developing Maven 4 and of course about its new features and improvements.
We're looking forward to another great evening of learning, sharing, and networking—don’t miss out!
See you on October 23rd! 👋