https://smattme.com/ Recent content in Journal of Seun Matt and his expertise on SmattMe Hugo -- gohugo.io en-us Mon, 04 May 2026 00:00:00 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/2026-05-04-k8s-zero-downtime-deployment-with-spring-boot/ Mon, 04 May 2026 00:00:00 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/2026-05-04-k8s-zero-downtime-deployment-with-spring-boot/ Deploy your Spring Boot application to a Kubernetes cluster with zero downtime using a combination of termination grace period and context closed listener. Safely release changes to production at any time of the day without degrading user experience. https://smattme.com/posts/2025-12-15-three-years-at-cellulant/ Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:00:51 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/2025-12-15-three-years-at-cellulant/ If 2025 were to be a movie, the classic, Shoot ‘Em Up, captures my career experience. It started as planned and then got interrupted by high-stake projects. I recorded some career milestones, major technical achievements, and learnt some lessons https://smattme.com/posts/2025-05-11-do-these-to-become-a-senior-software-engineer/ Sun, 11 May 2025 21:00:38 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/2025-05-11-do-these-to-become-a-senior-software-engineer/ Let’s discuss practical, day-to-day steps you can take as a professional aspiring to become a Senior Software Engineer or higher. Starting with the basics, deepening your knowledge, proactivity and taking responsibility, you’ll be setup for a better offer https://smattme.com/posts/2025-03-07-springboot-test-with-testcontainers/ Sat, 08 Mar 2025 09:22:14 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/2025-03-07-springboot-test-with-testcontainers/ Testcontainers allows you to spin up lightweight, disposable containers for databases and more. Enabling running of integrated Spring Boot tests without mocking https://smattme.com/posts/2025-01-23-effective-performance-evaluation-team-contribution/ Thu, 23 Jan 2025 20:44:55 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/2025-01-23-effective-performance-evaluation-team-contribution/ The essence of a team is such that the group output is greater than sum of individual outputs. A team where one or two are not contributing will have less output, compared to if ALL members are delivering. https://smattme.com/posts/2025-01-22-effective-performance-evaluation-technical-contribution/ Wed, 22 Jan 2025 20:10:50 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/2025-01-22-effective-performance-evaluation-technical-contribution/ It is important to effectively evaluate the performance of Software Engineers so that we can promote the qualities that move the company towards achieving its objectives https://smattme.com/posts/2024-12-31-enforce-coding-standard-with-pre-commit-java/ Tue, 31 Dec 2024 17:09:00 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/2024-12-31-enforce-coding-standard-with-pre-commit-java/ Learn how to automate Java coding standards enforcement using Pre-commit, Precommit4j, and Checkstyle with this step-by-step tutorial https://smattme.com/posts/2024-12-06-two-years-at-cellulant-my-2024-career-recap/ Sat, 07 Dec 2024 18:56:35 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/2024-12-06-two-years-at-cellulant-my-2024-career-recap/ 2024 is a unique and eventful year. Weddings, babies, dealing with legacy systems. A lot of things happen that impacted my career. In this recap, I narrated the challenges, victories and lessons of 2024 that will continue to shape me as an Engineering leader https://smattme.com/posts/2024-10-12-introduction-to-spring-boot/ Sat, 12 Oct 2024 12:03:32 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/2024-10-12-introduction-to-spring-boot/ A beginner-friendly guide to Spring Boot, covering project setup, structure, and the use of MVC patterns. Ideal for developers looking to build cloud-native web applications with minimal configuration. https://smattme.com/posts/2024-09-02-spring-boot-html-template-ui/ Mon, 02 Sep 2024 19:36:20 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/2024-09-02-spring-boot-html-template-ui/ In this video tutorial, we will learn how to find and use free HTML/CSS templates to create stunning user interfaces for a Spring Boot application. https://smattme.com/posts/2024-08-26-spring-boot-encrypt-database-column/ Mon, 26 Aug 2024 08:25:36 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/2024-08-26-spring-boot-encrypt-database-column/ Learn how to automatically encrypt and decrypt sensitive data in your Spring Boot application using AES encryption and JPA Attribute Converters. Protect API keys, client secrets, and other sensitive information stored in your database https://smattme.com/posts/2024-08-10-spring-boot-hmac-signature-authentication/ Sat, 10 Aug 2024 09:41:06 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/2024-08-10-spring-boot-hmac-signature-authentication/ Learn how to implement HMAC signature in a Spring Boot application to secure API requests. This step-by-step guide covers project setup, integrating HMAC with Spring Security, and testing with Java. https://smattme.com/posts/how-to-encrypt-decrypt-aes-in-java/ Sun, 21 Jul 2024 18:55:10 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/how-to-encrypt-decrypt-aes-in-java/ Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is a fast, symmetric encryption algorithm. In this tutorial, we will learn how to encrypt plain data, convert it to Base64, and decrypt it in Java https://smattme.com/posts/2024-03-09-spring-boot-env-variables/ Sat, 09 Mar 2024 21:28:25 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/2024-03-09-spring-boot-env-variables/ Learn how to use environment variables in Spring Boot application properties files to override the configured default values like a pro in 10 minutes. https://smattme.com/posts/how-to-encrypt-decrypt-rsa-in-java/ Sun, 28 Jan 2024 19:28:00 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/how-to-encrypt-decrypt-rsa-in-java/ A practical guide on how to encrypt and decrypt data using the RSA algorithm in Java. We will also see how we can generate an RSA key pair and convert it to and from Base64 https://smattme.com/posts/spring-boot-api-key-authentication/ Sun, 21 Jan 2024 11:00:01 +0300 https://smattme.com/posts/spring-boot-api-key-authentication/ This article shows how to create a Spring Boot app that requires API key for an endpoint using Spring Security. We also demonstrate how to combine this with other authentication mechanisms in the same codebase. https://smattme.com/posts/2024-01-08-training-as-a-tool-of-delegation/ Sun, 07 Jan 2024 15:26:00 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/2024-01-08-training-as-a-tool-of-delegation/ Delegating without empowering is a recipe for disappointment. Show your team members how to do the task at hand and your job becomes easier https://smattme.com/posts/5-years-experience-in-3/ Mon, 16 Oct 2023 00:50:04 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/5-years-experience-in-3/ In life, very few things trump “I’ve done it before”, this is how to get a 5 years worth of experience in 3 and maximise your employment https://smattme.com/posts/one-year-at-cellulant/ Mon, 09 Oct 2023 06:35:32 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/one-year-at-cellulant/ This is a tell-tale of my 1 year tenure at Cellulant. I solve challenges like too many meetings, knowledge democratisation, revamping of the SDLC, pull request reviews, onboarding process and more. https://smattme.com/posts/introduction-to-mvc-in-web-development/ Fri, 29 Sep 2023 10:07:33 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/introduction-to-mvc-in-web-development/ This article explains the MVC design pattern in a simple and easy to understand manner. We explored the Model, View and Controller component separately with a diagram to show the flow of a typical HTTP request in a MVC web application https://smattme.com/posts/how-to-generate-hmac-signature-in-java/ Sun, 24 Sep 2023 20:07:55 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/how-to-generate-hmac-signature-in-java/ In this article, we will examine how to generate HMAC signature for a given data or message in Java with an example using the HMAC-SHA256 algorithm https://smattme.com/posts/diff-between-transactional-and-transaction-template/ Sat, 09 Sep 2023 08:12:58 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/diff-between-transactional-and-transaction-template/ In this article, we are going to consider the differences between @Transactional and TransactionTemplate in managing database transactions in a SpringBoot application. We will also observe their different behaviours with exceptions https://smattme.com/contact/ Sun, 13 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://smattme.com/contact/ You can reach out to me via the following mediums: Send me a LinkedIn Message Send me a Twitter DM Send me a Facebook Message https://smattme.com/about/ Sun, 13 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://smattme.com/about/ I am a results-driven Software Engineering Manager dedicated to building elite teams that consistently achieve business objectives and drive profitability. With over 8 years of experience, I excel in cultivating a strong tech culture and establishing standards and practices that significantly boost productivity and maximize return on investment. In the last 5+ years, I have worked in different facets of the FinTech space; including digital lending, consumer payment, collections and payment gateway using Java/Spring Boot technologies, PHP and Ruby on Rails. https://smattme.com/posts/how-to-use-flyway-for-database-migration-in-spring-boot/ Sun, 06 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://smattme.com/posts/how-to-use-flyway-for-database-migration-in-spring-boot/ We will learn how to use Flyway to create database schema and even seed the database with data when our application is starting up for the first time https://smattme.com/posts/how-to-validate-json-request-body-in-spring-boot/ Wed, 26 Oct 2022 22:01:58 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/how-to-validate-json-request-body-in-spring-boot/ We will be looking at the request-validator library, which is able to compare the user input against a pre-defined set of rules like required,max,min https://smattme.com/posts/security-architecture-completely-securing-mobile-application-apis/ Tue, 03 May 2022 18:36:04 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/security-architecture-completely-securing-mobile-application-apis/ This is a comprehensive architectural guide on how to secure important APIs of your application including the signup, reset password and retry OTP API https://smattme.com/posts/how-to-setup-bootstrap-for-local-and-offline-use/ Thu, 10 Feb 2022 20:21:07 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/how-to-setup-bootstrap-for-local-and-offline-use/ In this tutorial, we are going to look at how to download bootstrap and jquery locally and use them to in our project even when we don’t have internet https://smattme.com/posts/monolith-spring-boot-exception-handling/ Thu, 18 Nov 2021 21:00:39 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/monolith-spring-boot-exception-handling/ Learn how to handle exceptions in a monolith Spring Boot application and return custom error pages. You’ll also learn how the default handling works https://smattme.com/posts/spring-boot-exception-handling/ Mon, 20 Sep 2021 20:45:17 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/spring-boot-exception-handling/ In this article, we are going to look at how to configure Spring boot to handle exceptions and customise the error responses https://smattme.com/posts/how-to-create-a-digitalocean-droplet-for-hosting-spring-boot-app-using-terraform/ Sun, 05 Sep 2021 03:26:35 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/how-to-create-a-digitalocean-droplet-for-hosting-spring-boot-app-using-terraform/ How to use Terraform to create a DigitalOcean droplet for a Java (Spring Boot) web application https://smattme.com/posts/comprehensive-step-by-step-guide-on-how-to-upload-open-source-java-library-to-maven-central/ Sat, 03 Nov 2018 17:59:41 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/comprehensive-step-by-step-guide-on-how-to-upload-open-source-java-library-to-maven-central/ In this tutorial, we will see how to publish our open source Java library to Maven Central. We will create a Sonatype account, sign the artefacts, and publish it for the world to use in their projects https://smattme.com/posts/how-to-view-remote-codeigniter-log-files-in-the-browser-and-postman/ Thu, 30 Aug 2018 04:20:03 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/how-to-view-remote-codeigniter-log-files-in-the-browser-and-postman/ Being able to read log files on a production server can boost the quality of your emergency readiness and response. Read on to learn how. https://smattme.com/posts/auto-deploy-spring-boot-app-using-gitlab-ci-cd/ Fri, 06 Apr 2018 19:16:26 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/auto-deploy-spring-boot-app-using-gitlab-ci-cd/ Create a Spring Boot application, set up your server and configure Gitlab to build your app, run tests and deploy automatically to your server https://smattme.com/posts/process-large-data-from-excel-file-with-a-breeze/ Fri, 23 Mar 2018 22:52:04 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/process-large-data-from-excel-file-with-a-breeze/ Why upload the file, when all you need is the data in it? Cleaner, faster avoid connection timeouts, corrupted data just by adding excel_uploader js https://smattme.com/posts/how-to-backup-mysql-database-programmatically-using-mysql-backup4j/ Sun, 18 Mar 2018 22:30:51 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/how-to-backup-mysql-database-programmatically-using-mysql-backup4j/ Export your MySQL database to a zip file, send the generated SQL dump to your email, Amazon S3, Google Drive etc. Plus automate the process https://smattme.com/posts/how-to-build-a-desktop-application-with-java/ Wed, 21 Feb 2018 18:52:12 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/how-to-build-a-desktop-application-with-java/ We’ll build a complete desktop application that’ll translate English text to Morse Code and vice-versa plus an overview of Java GUI https://smattme.com/posts/ideas-with-no-coins/ Wed, 21 Feb 2018 05:38:31 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/ideas-with-no-coins/ Sometimes the coins make all the difference - between those who took-off and those who crash on the runway of entrepreneurship. The hustler’s poem https://smattme.com/posts/read-this-before-you-quit/ Wed, 21 Feb 2018 05:27:30 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/read-this-before-you-quit/ Life can be tough, great men do fall. Whatever comes our way, we must not quit for many - known and unknown - are dependent on our success https://smattme.com/posts/moving-from-laragon-2-to-laragon-3/ Wed, 21 Feb 2018 05:14:51 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/moving-from-laragon-2-to-laragon-3/ This is a recap of how I moved from Laragon 2 to v3, my mistakes and how you can avoid them. Plus undocumented changes I discovered https://smattme.com/posts/how-to-create-a-database-seeder-in-spring-boot/ Wed, 21 Feb 2018 05:06:45 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/how-to-create-a-database-seeder-in-spring-boot/ Ever wish there is a way you insert default data into the database during application startup in a SpringBoot environment? Read on! https://smattme.com/posts/formstack-php-api-library/ Wed, 21 Feb 2018 04:35:34 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/formstack-php-api-library/ Interacting with the Formstack API v2 just got better with this new fstackapi_php library. We’ll use it to submit form dynamically and more https://smattme.com/posts/what-do-i-need-to-be-a-web-developer/ Wed, 21 Feb 2018 04:03:00 +0100 https://smattme.com/posts/what-do-i-need-to-be-a-web-developer/ Here is a curation of the different technologies that power the web and the ones you should learn to make a living as a web developer https://smattme.com/privacy/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 https://smattme.com/privacy/ Last updated: August 13, 2023 This Privacy Policy describes Our policies and procedures on the collection, use and disclosure of Your information when You use the Service and tells You about Your privacy rights and how the law protects You. We use Your Personal data to provide and improve the Service. By using the Service, You agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. https://smattme.com/terms/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 https://smattme.com/terms/ Last updated: August 13, 2023 Welcome to SmattMe! These terms and conditions outline the rules and regulations for the use of SmattMe’s Website, located at https://smattme.com. By accessing this website we assume you accept these terms and conditions. Do not continue to use SmattMe if you do not agree to all the terms and conditions stated on this page. The following terminology applies to these Terms and Conditions, Privacy Statement and Disclaimer Notice and all Agreements: “Client”, “You” and “Your” refers to you, the person log on this website and compliant to the Company’s terms and conditions.