Stop Prompting. Start Orchestrating. Java + Agents: Context, Tokens, Workflows

Most of us are already using agentic coding in some form: Claude, Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, or whatever new thing shipped this week.

This talk is about the next layer: where the industry is heading as agents take on larger chunks of software work, and what Java developers need to learn to stay ahead. We’ll focus on context management, token strategy, orchestration, Codex-style workflows, cost optimization, and the practical judgment required to use these systems without losing the plot.

The goal is to move beyond intro demos and into the real skill stack: knowing what to delegate, how to frame goals, how to keep agents grounded in larger codebases, how to get more value from fewer tokens, how to catch drift before it becomes damage, and how to verify output in a way that actually protects quality.

This is also a career talk, because the tools are improving too quickly for casual awareness to be enough. The developers who stay valuable will not just be the ones who “use AI”; they’ll be the ones who can direct, constrain, evaluate, and compound with agentic systems.

P.S. Due to popular demand, the slick Keynote animations are coming back.

About the venue
Free Times Cafe has bistro-style seating and a full food and drink menu. Please consider helping to support the venue by planning to have supper during the talk.

Speaker Bio
Victor Szoltysek is a seasoned consultant and technologist, currently at RAVL, where he helps clients eliminate the inefficiencies of undifferentiated heavy lifting and focus on building solutions that drive real business value for their customers. With a career spanning notable organizations like Accenture, Pivotal, and ThoughtWorks, as well as numerous startups, Victor brings a wealth of experience in cloud transformations, DevOps enablement, and Agile software development.

A dedicated Java enthusiast with a sharp eye for cutting-edge technologies, Victor’s work frequently intersects with AWS, where he strives to streamline workflows and help teams leverage the cloud without unnecessary complexity. Recently, he’s also ventured into the dynamic world of artificial intelligence, exploring ways to make programming more engaging, efficient, and rewarding.

Victor is known for his humorous and sometimes controversial presentation style, ensuring lively discussions and thought-provoking takeaways. His disdain for overly complex tech solutions drives his mission to simplify the way we build and deploy software. Whether he’s sharing insights about Java, AWS, or AI, Victor’s talks are as energizing and satisfying as your favorite cup of coffee. Don’t miss his unique blend of wit, wisdom, and deep technical expertise at our meetup!