Breaktime Tech Talks

It's the 50th episode of Breaktime Tech Talks! And to celebrate, I launched a podcast feedback form for you, my listeners.

In this 50th episode, follow my latest explorations into Spring AI and GraphRAG. I delve into my attempts to streamline the manual GraphRAG process using Spring AI advisors and tools, sharing the challenges I'm facing, specifically with context parsing from one advisor to the next. I also update the Spring AI s...

This week, I simplified my Langchain4j project with improved prompt variable injection. Then hear my perspective on the role of tools vs. agents in AI workflows—looking at how structured processes differ from autonomous systems, especially in the context of Java frameworks and GraphRAG.

Get an inside scoop on how I use different AI coding tools: IntelliJ IDEA for in-flow coding, VS Code with agent mode for problem-solving, and Chat...

This week, there were quite a few things I learned:

• Common steps for implementing GraphRAG in Java using Spring AI and Langchain4j, highlighting key differences in setup and customization.
• Study prep updates and help on the Neo4j Developer Certification for June!
• Celebrate Langchain4j’s 1.0 release.
• Two thought-provoking articles—one on enhancing RAG with graphs, and another analyzing the effectiveness of voice-based interface...

In this episode, I share some hands-on insights from building apps with Langchain4j using Quarkus and Neo4j, and compare it with Spring AI—especially around how each framework handles vector search and GraphRAG workflows. Spoiler: customization in Langchain4j feels a bit clunky.

I also dig into one article's critical take on the MCP authorization spec and why its current approach to security is mis...

• 🔗 Building a starter application with Quarkus Neo4j and the Object Graph Mapper (OGM).
• 📝 Exploring similarities and differences between Quarkus and Spring frameworks.
• 📑 Resources for building with Quarkus and Neo4j - blog post and documentation.
• 📚 Key takeaways f...

In this episode, I have some exciting technical updates, along with insights from my recent work and learning. Topics covered include:

• 📝 Neo4j Java Driver & Object Mapping – My latest blog post and upcoming updates to the GraphAcademy Java courses.

• 🧪 Framework-less Java Apps – Experiments in building Java applications without a framework and comparing with tools like Spring and others.

• 🔧 Code Refactoring Strategy –...

In this episode, we dive into three key updates from the world of Java development and emerging tech standards:

• First, walk through a new feature in the Neo4j Java driver (v5.28.5) that enables lightweight object mapping. I’ve set up a sample code repository showcasing how to return Cypher query results directly into your Java domain objects—no full-blown OGM needed. It’s a big improvement, but with a few gotchas you’ll want ...

In this episode, we dive into the latest upgrades in Neo4j tooling, along with recent bug fixes and enhancements in the LLM Knowledge Graph Builder. We also explore a new preview feature for Java object mapping in the Neo4j Java driver and check out the MCP Java SDK. Next, we highlight the new "Using Neo4j with Java" course on GraphAcademy and unpack a compelling Weaviate article on RAG vs. GraphRAG, featuring Microsoft’s GraphRAG ...

Star Wars Day is nearly here, and this episode is stacked with tech goodness to celebrate! I’m diving into highlights from the Neo4j ecosystem, starting with an early look at the Using Neo4j with Java course—perfect for getting started with the Java driver in a framework-less setup.

Also in this episode:

• ⚙️ Behind-the-scenes of APOC + Pinecone integration

• ✨ Part 2 of my Intro to Retrieval Augmented Generation series

• 🎥 My ...

In this episode, we unpack a busy week of updates, learning, and cool tech! From Spring AI’s milestone 7 release with simplified Pinecone configuration to some tricky wifi, I walk through recent changes and adventures. Plus, NODES 2025 is officially announced, and there’s hints of our upcoming GraphAcademy Java course. I also talk about the first part of my new blog series on Retrieval Augmented Generation and highlight a fantastic...

Fresh from the Arc of AI conference, I’m unpacking the biggest insights that stuck with me—ranging from the extremes of AI’s capabilities to the deeper implications for how we build and maintain our tech systems. I’ll also share a new blog post and code repo I published on loading data into Pinecone, some next-gen tools I’m eyeing, and thoughts on a great article from the Redis blog about why vector databases aren’t enough. Navigat...

In this episode, I continue my journey with vector databases, integrating Pinecone, Neo4j, and Spring AI. While making some progress, I also encountered hurdles, such as evolving APIs and the unique architecture of vector stores.

Next, I share insights from an article on contributing to open-source projects, how it can accelerate your career and enhance both your technical and soft skills. From picking the right project to building...

In this episode, there are two topics I'm looking forward to diving deeper into: vector databases and AI agents. I'm particularly interested in understanding how vector databases work, how they work with data, and their role in AI applications.

Then I share my thoughts on Anthropic’s article about Building AI Agents, which discusses their varying definitions—from simple workflows to fully autonomous systems—and provides practical e...

In this podcast episode, hear my process of preparing for an upcoming conference with insights on how outlines enhance presentations and blog posts, as well as code and architecture. Also discuss how constant improvement is key with an online course as an example. Finally, I highlight a historical read on cryptography, and share reflections from Grace Hopper's 1982 lecture on data, hardware, and software, drawing connections betwee...

In this episode, I share recent blog posts. The first is about tackling challenges with GitHub repositories, offering solutions on syncing forks and using git rebasing, diffs, and pruning. Next, I created examples with Cypher DSL, providing beginner-friendly details to help users get started. Additionally, I started prepping for the Devnexus conference, where I'll be delivering my first keynote. I also read an article about an int...

In this episode, I’m following up on a few things I’ve mentioned before. I dive into some updates on the Aura CLI (the official product version). I also explored the Neo4j GenAI Java library a bit more, including a connection hiccup I ran into with Neo4j Desktop. Then, I get into my experience with the Cypher DSL library and how Cypher fits into the retrieval part of RAG systems. Finally, I take a fun detour into an interesting art...