What’s in the Bag: Java, But Make It Modern

Part 1 of a new series on JVM technologies, Kotlin, and the tools worth your time in 2025.

For the past three decades, I’ve had a complicated relationship with Java. It was one of the first languages I wrote “real” software in, but over the years I drifted toward more expressive, flexible ecosystems — Ruby, Elixir, TypeScript. Java always felt like something you had to fight a little to enjoy.

But lately, something’s shifted.

I’ve been circling back to the JVM, not because I miss Java, but because I’ve been pulled in by Kotlin — a language that manages to feel modern, expressive, and dare I say… joyful?

If Java is the multi-tool that gets the job done, Kotlin is the well-balanced wedge that just feels right in your hand.

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So what’s this series?

This “What’s in the Bag” JVM series is my way of exploring the tools and ideas that are making Java exciting again — at least for me. I'm focusing less on traditional enterprise stacks and more on lightweight, elegant technologies that feel closer to the kind of development I enjoy in TypeScript.

Here’s what you can expect:

1. A Kotlin primer – Why I think it’s the best thing I’ve used on the JVM in a long time.

2. A look at Ktor – A JetBrains-built server framework that makes writing APIs in Kotlin surprisingly fun.

3. Some working examples – APIs, dev tools, and patterns that remind me of the joy of fast iteration.

4. A few comparisons – Why these tools are worth a second look even if you’ve moved past Java.

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Why Kotlin?

Kotlin hits a sweet spot that few languages do:

• Null safety that works

• Coroutines and structured concurrency

• First-class tooling from JetBrains

• Concise syntax with real type safety

And maybe most surprisingly — it’s just fun to write.

If you’ve ever thought “I wish JavaScript had a type system that didn’t hate me”, or “I wish TypeScript ran on the server with real threads”, Kotlin might be your thing.

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Where this is going

I’m going to keep each entry focused, digestible, and grounded in real code. The goal isn’t to teach Kotlin from scratch — it’s to show what makes these tools worth your time in 2025, even if you never thought you’d look at a .kt file again.

Let’s get back in the bag.

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Next Up: Kotlin for TypeScript Developers

We'll explore Kotlin's core features, what makes it elegant, and how it compares to the tools you already know.