Why I Am Eligible to Be a Java Champion

A Candidacy for Java Champion: A Quarter-Century of Dedication

A Lifelong Journey with Java ☕

My engagement with Java began in 1998 with Java Development Kit (JDK) 1.1. This early adoption wasn’t just a fleeting interest; it was the start of a lifelong commitment. I solidified my foundational knowledge by earning the Sun Certified Java Programmer certification in 2002, followed by the Sun Certified Web Component Developer certification in 2003. Since then, I have been continuously working with and mastering every new iteration of the Java platform, from its enterprise editions to modern cloud-native frameworks.

Furthermore, I am a firm believer in the power of open source. My code contributions can be found across a diverse range of influential projects, including:

  • Adobe ACS Commons
  • Google Java Samples
  • Spring Boot
  • elasticsearch-java
  • Ionic Framework

My vocal advocacy, consistent educational efforts, and deep, hands-on contributions to the core Java ecosystem demonstrate a sustained and impactful dedication that I believe aligns perfectly with the spirit of a Java Champion.

Suren Sun Certification Java Certification - 2002

Community Leadership and Education 🎓

I believe that a key part of being a leader is sharing knowledge. I founded and manage Progress Java, an educational website dedicated to teaching Java concepts to developers of all levels. My passion for education extends to my personal blog and numerous articles published on prominent platforms like DZone and the official Oracle Blog. Through these channels, I’ve had the privilege of sharing insights, tutorials, and commentary, helping to foster the next generation of Java developers.

Innovation and Evangelism 💡

Beyond contributing to existing frameworks, I’ve focused on innovating to accelerate development. I am the inventor and founder of “The JAQ Stack,” a pre-built Rapid Application Development (RAD) tool combining Java, jAvascript, and NoSQL. The goal of JAQ is to empower developers to build robust, full-stack applications with significantly increased speed and efficiency.

I have actively evangelized this approach and other Java topics through presentations at developer communities and conferences, including:

Contributions to the Java Ecosystem 🛠️

My commitment to Java goes beyond personal projects and into the heart of its governance and open-source landscape. I am an active member of several key groups shaping the future of the platform:

1. Education & Advocacy

  • Founder of Progress Java, a teaching site that helps students and professionals learn Java effectively.
  • Delivered presentations on Java and related technologies at:
    • University of Texas at Dallas (UTD)
    • Seattle CodeCamp
    • Commit Your Code conference
  • Vocal advocate for Java’s relevance — mentoring, speaking, and writing about Java’s evolution.

2. Inventor of The JAQ Stack

  • Invented and founded The JAQ Stack — a RAD tool and prebuilt stack combining Java, JavaScript, and NoSQL to accelerate application development.
  • Published research on JAQ Stack:
    • The JAQ Stack: Building Websites & Applications with Java, Angular, NoSQL/SQL (ResearchGate, Sep 2018)
  • Shared JAQ Stack learnings in talks, open source contributions, and blogs.

3. Writing & Thought Leadership

Published articles across respected platforms:

  • Oracle Blog (Jan 19, 2022): Helidon with Swagger/OpenAPI
  • Atlassian Bitbucket Guest Post (Apr 30, 2019): Deploying Angular Apps on Google VM with Bitbucket Pipelines
  • DZone:
    • Preview Blobs with HTTP Post & Angular 5 (Oct 12, 2018, 73.7K views)
    • How Much Does Java Cost? (May 21, 2020, 280.4K views)

  • ResearchGate (Sep 2018): The JAQ Stack paper

  • OpenJDK Web Group: I am part of the team driving the crucial redesign of the OpenJDK.org website, helping to improve the central hub for the Java community.

  • Jakarta EE Working Group: As a member, I participate in the evolution of enterprise Java at Jakarta EE Group, a journey that began when Oracle contributed Java EE to the Eclipse Foundation.

  • Oracle Helidon Project: I am an active contributor and participant in the Helidon project, helping to advance Java’s capabilities in the microservices and cloud-native space.

Furthermore, my code contributions can be found across a diverse range of influential open-source projects, including Adobe ACS Commons, Google Java Samples, Spring Boot, Elasticsearch Java, and the Ionic Framework. My advocacy, educational efforts, innovation, and hands-on contributions demonstrate a sustained and impactful dedication that I believe aligns perfectly with the spirit of a Java Champion.

Published Works & Recognition ✍️

My voice is a consistent presence in the global Java community, with articles reaching hundreds of thousands of developers on some of the industry’s most respected platforms.

Why Java Champion?

  • Longevity & consistency: I’ve been part of the Java ecosystem since its early days.
  • Hands-on impact: From large enterprise systems to OSS contributions, I’ve delivered practical value through Java.
  • Community building: Through Progress Java, articles, and advocacy, I’ve helped developers learn and grow with Java.
  • Open source & standards: My participation in OpenJDK, Jakarta EE, and Helidon shows commitment to advancing the ecosystem.

I am passionate about keeping Java modern, approachable, and community-driven. Becoming a Java Champion would allow me to continue this mission with greater impact, while also giving back more to the community that has shaped my career.

Acknowledgements 🙏

  • This entire journey began with a single spark of inspiration. I would like to extend a special thank you to my first computer science professor who taught me Java, Dr. Prasad Reddy. His guidance set me on this incredible path.