Java Apps on AWS Without the Headaches: Fast Builds, Cheap Deploys, No Kubernetes
Let’s face it: the cloud has gotten out of hand. What used to be simple—deploying your Java app—has become a maze of slow builds, tedious deploys, and eye-watering AWS bills. But here’s the thing: it doesn’t have to be this way. Every minute you spend waiting on builds or wrestling with unnecessary cloud complexity is a minute you’re not building the features your customers actually care about.
In this talk, I’ll show you how to go from a shiny new Java app to production in under 10 minutes—with fast builds, cheap deploys, and zero downtime. We’ll go deep into optimizing builds with Gradle (it’s time to leave Maven in the dust), parallelization strategies, and smarter caching mechanics that make your CI/CD pipelines fly. From there, we’ll review the dozen+ ways AWS lets you deploy apps and cut through the chaos to find the solutions that work best for lean, fast, cost-effective pipelines. Spoiler: ECS and EKS usually aren’t the answer. Oh, and I’ll even show you how AI tools like AWS Bedrock can help streamline your processes further, so you can automate what should already be automatic.
This talk is for developers fed up with the cost, complexity, and friction of modern cloud setups—or those who long for the simplicity of the Heroku/Beanstalk/PCF days when deploying to the cloud wasn’t a headache. Whether you’re on AWS, Azure, or GCP, you’ll learn actionable, cloud-agnostic tips to build faster, deploy cheaper, and refocus on what matters most: delivering value to your users.
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.
Presenter Info
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!
