Building Java Systems with Spec-Driven Development

What you’ll learn and how you can apply it

• Establish a durable project context and architectural guidance for AI-assisted development
• Use behavior-driven development and specification by example to collaborate effectively with stakeholders and product owners
• Apply proven Java testing tools and verification techniques to safely guide AI-generated code

Course description

Learn disciplined, verifiable, AI-assisted software development practices using modern Java tooling and spec-driven development (SDD) with Java Champion Daniel Hinojosa. By placing executable specifications at the center of the development lifecycle, SDD allows AI to iteratively build applications under disciplined, automated guidance.

In this two-hour course, you’ll explore why behavior-driven development (BDD) and domain-driven design (DDD) provide natural foundations for SDD. Using Cucumber as the source of truth, you’ll derive implementation plans, maintain a durable domain context, and leverage AI to generate code across multiple architectural layers. You’ll focus on guardrails and layered verification using modern Java tooling. Throughout the session, you’ll build features live using Java, JUnit, Cucumber, Rest-Assured, Testcontainers, Selenium, and ArchUnit and see how AI can accelerate delivery while increasing confidence through layered verification of behavior, architecture, and system boundaries.

If you don’t have access to all recommended tools or subscriptions, you’re still encouraged to participate. All workflows and exercises will be demonstrated live so you can follow the process, observe the techniques, and apply them in your own environment later.