Java & JVMConference50min
How Netflix uses Java - 2026 edition
This session presents Netflix’s 2026 Java architecture update, showcasing how Java underpins its services using Spring Boot, DGS/GraphQL, and gRPC. It covers dependency management for 3,000+ services, adoption of new Java runtime features like ZGC, Virtual Threads, and AOT, and how Java supports AI integration and continuous innovation.
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Paul BakkerNetflix
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Thursday, June 18, 14:35-15:25
Room 2
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This is the 2026 update of How Netflix Uses Java. In this session, you’ll see how Java powers your favorite Netflix shows and take away practical lessons for leveraging Java more effectively in your own organization. The Netflix architecture and the way we use Java is always changing.
On top of that, Java itself and the OSS ecosystem are evolving faster than ever. Come learn how Netflix is using Java in 2026 and what benefits and challenges we’re seeing running most of our services on the latest Java releases. We’ll explore how we build services with Spring Boot, DGS/GraphQL, and gRPC, and how we manage dependencies to keep more than 3,000 Java services consistently updated across frameworks, libraries, and JDK versions. You’ll hear our experiences with new runtime features such as generational ZGC, Virtual Threads, and AOT for faster startup. Finally, we’ll look at how Java plays a critical role in leveraging AI in our services.
On top of that, Java itself and the OSS ecosystem are evolving faster than ever. Come learn how Netflix is using Java in 2026 and what benefits and challenges we’re seeing running most of our services on the latest Java releases. We’ll explore how we build services with Spring Boot, DGS/GraphQL, and gRPC, and how we manage dependencies to keep more than 3,000 Java services consistently updated across frameworks, libraries, and JDK versions. You’ll hear our experiences with new runtime features such as generational ZGC, Virtual Threads, and AOT for faster startup. Finally, we’ll look at how Java plays a critical role in leveraging AI in our services.
Paul Bakker
Paul is a staff software engineer in the Java Platform team at Netflix. He works on improving the Java stack and tooling used by all Netflix microservices and was one of the original authors of the DGS (GraphQL) Framework. He published two books about Java modularity with O’Reilly and is a frequent conference speaker.