Speaker Topics - No Fluff Just Stuff
NFJS2025

Mythbuster: Spring Configuration is XML hell

You may have heard it before, “Spring configuration is XML hell”!

This session analyzes what's behind this statement to see if it holds water or not.

In this “MythBuster” you'll learn practical techniques for managing (and in many cases greatly reducing) the volume of configuration information for your Spring-based application.

You'll leave with guidelines on:

  • What to externalize the configuration of and what not to
  • When to select a configuration medium–XML, Annotations, Java, DB, or Scripting DSL?
  • How to effectively organize configuration information
  • How to benefit from intelligent defaulting and conventions

Is this myth fact or fiction? Tune in and find out!


Colin Sampaleanu

About Colin Sampaleanu

Colin is Director of R&D at SpringSource (now a division of VMware), which he co-founded in 2004. He is one of the original core committers on the Spring Framework, a published author, and public speaker. Since starting SpringSource he has served in a number of roles throughout various parts of the organization, including Engineering, Service Delivery, Support, and Sales. Colin is at his best when combining both technical as well as business and customer facing aspects.

Colin has had a long and varied career spanning 23 years in both the enterprise and shrinkwrap software space, including previous experience developing for and building out a retail software company.

Immediately prior to SpringSource, Colin spent 5 years as architect/chief architect at a leading software incubator and VC firm. Colin's role was split between one part hands on architecture, design, and coding, another part mentoring and teaching best practices at the code and process level, and a final part performing technical due diligence and consulting for the VC arm.

Throughout his career, Colin's experience, wide ranging interests and general knowledge in the technology space have led him to be a resource that others have been able to draw on for advice. In general, Colin's background has left him with a deep knowledge of all it takes to successfully release good software, at the code, process, and business level.

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