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Finding Your Tribe – JUGs Unveiled 

Ever catch yourself venting to your AI assistant at 2 am about more than just code? We get it. Debugging can very quickly turn into a therapy session. But when it comes to real talk, real career advice, and real connections, nothing beats an actual community.

Java User Groups (JUGs) are spaces where Java devs swap stories, share knowledge, and grow together – no awkward small talk with a chatbot required.

In this post, we’ll break down what JUGs are, why they’re worth your time, and how to get involved. Let’s go!

What are JUGs?

Java User Groups (JUGs) are developer communities where Java people hang out – online or in-person – to chat about new trends, squash coding bugs together, and learn from industry professionals. 

JUGs are volunteer-driven, so you won’t find anyone trying to sell you anything. Instead, they operate on the concept of developers helping developers. 

Most JUGs host regular meetups packed with technical talks, hands-on workshops, and open Q&A sessions. These gatherings are nearly always free and welcome everyone, from total beginners to experts who’ve been coding for years. Some JUGs even organize annual conferences for their region, which are usually not free but gather a lot of interesting speakers to learn from. 

Outside of meetups, many groups also keep things lively with mailing lists, forums, or chat channels, so you can keep learning and getting help anytime. 

The point is simple: encourage Java knowledge, support fellow coders, and create a safe, inclusive space to grow and connect.

Why Join JUGs?

JUGs are a goldmine for learning, networking, and career growth. 

Here’s why you should join:

• Stay up to date – Learn about new Java features, frameworks, and best practices through expert talks and workshops. Sometimes, you’ll pick up something you weren’t even looking for that ends up being surprisingly useful.
• Expand your network – Meet fellow developers, find mentors, and discover job opportunities through community connections.
• Boost your career – Speaking at JUGs, leading initiatives, or contributing to discussions can increase your visibility and even lead to conference speaking gigs.
• Get support and mentorship – JUGs provide a friendly space to ask questions, share knowledge, and grow alongside others. It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out or leading a team, everyone’s on equal footing – no titles, no barriers, just real conversations.

Roles inside JUGs

Every JUG runs a little differently. There’s no fixed formula for how things are organized internally, and that’s exactly what makes them special.

Whatever the setup, there are always one or more leaders who take responsibility for keeping things moving. They plan meetups, connect with speakers, find venues, and hold the whole thing together. It’s voluntary work driven by passion, not perks.

Members, on the other hand, can contribute in any way they like, whether joining discussions, giving talks, helping with logistics, or simply showing up and supporting the group. There’s no pressure, just participation. Over time, those who keep showing up often become co-organizers or leaders themselves.

JUGs are powered by people who care about Java and the ecosystem, so there’s always a place and a role to suit you. 

How to join JUGs?

It is very easy to share your passion for Java with fellow developers: 

• Find a local JUG on Meetup, Java User Groups, or Oracle’s JCP page.
• No local JUG? Start your own or join Virtual JUG (vJUG) online!
• Show up, connect, and start learning, contributing, and having fun with a like-minded crowd! 

Develop user groups together with JetBrains

JetBrains is all about supporting developer communities. Our User Groups program offers free licenses for JetBrains tools, swag for giveaways, and promotional support to help you run engaging meetups and events. To learn more or apply for support, visit our dedicated page.

The most active JUGs

JUGs are everywhere, covering every continent except Antarctica. The numbers speak for themselves: more than 350 JUGs exist worldwide, and over 100 of them actively collaborate with the Java Community Process (JCP) as official partners.

Which JUGs are the most active? If any of these are near you, consider joining!

Online 

🌍 Virtual JUG (vJUG)

A Java meetup without borders, vJUG is entirely online, boasting a massive 19,000+ members from across the globe. With regular virtual sessions featuring top-notch speakers, it’s an easy, low-commitment way to stay sharp on Java, no matter where you are.

Europe

🇬🇧 London Java Community (LJC) (UK)

Leaders: Barry Cranford, Martijn Verburg, Mel Tizzard, and others.

Members: 8,500+

In London’s buzzing tech scene, LJC is a force to be reckoned with. Known for its open-source contributions and strong ties to the JCP, it runs regular events from JVM language workshops to hackathons.

LJC also holds a seat on the JCP, shaping Java’s evolution, and runs mentorship programs to help developers level up.

🇳🇱 NLJUG (Netherlands)

Leaders: Bert Breeman, Martin Smelt, Bert Jan Schrijver, Brian Vermeer, Bas Knopper, and Marianne Hoornenborg.

Members: 5,000+

NLJUG connects developers, companies, and academic institutions across the country. Its leadership team drives initiatives like J-Fall and J-Spring that are some of Europe’s biggest Java events. Beyond events, NLJUG runs an academy, publishes the Dutch Java Magazine, and has a seat at the JCP table. 

🇳🇱 AmsterdamJUG (Netherlands)

Leaders: Vladimir Dejanović, Geertjan Wielenga, Roy Braam, and Iva Dejanović. 

Members: 4,400+

AmsterdamJUG is one of the most active JUGs in the world. From meetups at venues like Code Nomads, OpenValue, and JetBrains office to collaborations with companies like Uber Technologies, there’s always something happening. 

🇵🇱 Polish JUG (Poland)

Leaders: Adrian Nowak, Andrzej Grzesik, Jakub Dżon, and Konrad Malawski.

Members: 3,400+

This is one of the oldest and most influential Java communities in Central Europe. Apart from regular networking and educational events, this JUG has been instrumental in translating key Java literature, such as Thinking in Java, into Polish. 

The group is also known for co-organizing GeeCON, a major Java conference held in Poland and the Czech Republic. 

🇧🇪 Belgian JUG (Belgium)

Leaders: Founded by Stephan Janssen, now led by Tom Cools. Other members are: Frank Delporte, Loïc Magnette, Olivier Hubaut. 

Members: 2,000+

Belgian JUG is the birthplace of something much bigger: Devoxx. Founded in the late 1990s, Belgian JUG launched JavaPolis in 2001. It was a local event that later evolved into Devoxx, now one of the biggest Java conferences worldwide. Devoxx Belgium alone attracts thousands of developers every year.

Belgian JUG also founded:

• Devoxx4Kids – An event introducing children to Java and programming.
• Voxxed Days – A series of Java-focused events across different cities.

This JUG proves that a small community can create a global movement.

To get involved or attend an event, check out their Meetup page or visit their GitHub for community projects and resources.​

🇪🇸 Barcelona JUG (Spain)

Leaders: Jonathan Vila, Anyul Rivas, Nacho Cougil, Alejandro Martínez, and others. 

Members: 2,400+

With 2,400 registered members on Meetup, the group runs regular events listed on their website. The leaders are also behind the hugely popular Java conference formerly known as JBCN, now rebranded as DevBcn.

🇳🇴 javaBin (Norway)

Leaders: Dervis Mansuroglu, Alexander Samsig, Øyvind Løkling, Rafael Winterhalter, Karl Syvert Løland, Børge Nese, Alexander Amiri, Sverre Moe, Orathai Mai Khanasa, Chris Searle, and Janniche Lange. 

Members: 6,000+

javaBin is one of Norway’s largest tech communities. It boasts nearly 6,000 members and over 50 active contributors who organize events and workshops throughout the year. 

The organization has branches in several regions of Norway. Each branch hosts regular meetups, student events, and even activities for kids. 

javaBin’s flagship event is JavaZone, held annually in September. This conference is one of the world’s largest community-driven Java events. Organized entirely by volunteers, JavaZone offers a platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and celebrating the Java ecosystem.

🇨🇭 JUG Switzerland (Switzerland) 

Leaders: Marcus Fihlon, Philipp Oser, Dominik Berger, Patrick Baumgartner, Thomas Wenger, Christian Stettler, Michael Inden, Ursula Burri, and Sibylle Walther.

Members: 1,500+

Despite smaller meetup sizes, the Swiss JUG makes up for it with well-organized logistics that keep its members connected across Switzerland. Their events are held in various cities, including Zürich, Basel, Bern, Lucerne, and St. Gallen. Thanks to this, it maintains an active and engaged community.

🇫🇷 Paris JUG (France)

Leaders: Charles Sabourdin, José Paumard, Khanh Tuong Maudoux, and Bruce Bujon.

Members: 200+

This vibrant community of Java enthusiasts in Paris hosts meetups quite often. If you cannot attend them, Paris JUG records most sessions and shares them on their YouTube channel. To stay informed about upcoming events, you can subscribe to their mailing list.​

North America

🇺🇸 San Francisco JUG – SFJUG (USA)

Leaders: Pieter Humphrey, Chris Richardson, Aleksandar Gargenta, Rooz Mohazzab, etc.

Members: 8,900+

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, SFJUG has grown to over 8,400 members since 2008. With regular expert talks and strong networking opportunities, it’s an ideal hub for Java developers in one of the world’s top tech cities. SFJUG also has a YouTube channel with some helpful materials. 

🇺🇸 Atlanta JUG (AJUG) (USA)

Leaders: Pratik Patel, Vincent Mayers, Burk Hufnagel, and others. 

Members: 3,900+

AJUG does more than just host meetups, it runs Devnexus, the largest Java conference in the US. Held in Atlanta, Devnexus attracts developers from across the country (and beyond) to explore cutting-edge Java and JVM technologies. 

AJUG shows that even outside Silicon Valley, JUGs can thrive and build world-class developer communities.

🇺🇸 Garden State JUG (USA)

Leaders: Michael Redlich, Barry Burd, Chandra Guntur, Paul Syers, Neha Sardana, Scott Selikoff, and Caitlin Mahoney.

Members: 300+

Established in February 2001 (originally as the ACGNJ Java Users Group), GSJUG is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the use of Java platforms, APIs, and the language. The group focuses on JVM technologies such as Java EE, Jakarta EE, MicroProfile, Spring, Groovy, and Kotlin, while occasionally exploring non-JVM topics like Meteor, AngularJS, and Rust. GSJUG is a proud member of the MicroProfile Working Group and the Jakarta EE Ambassadors and has adopted the Jakarta NoSQL specification. 

Meetings are generally held on the second Tuesday of each month, typically at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, with options for online attendance via their YouTube channel.

🇺🇸 Chicago JUG (USA)

Leaders: Mary Grygleski, Freddy Guime, and others. 

Members: 3,600+

Regular activities of the CJUG include monthly tech talks, code-a-thons, mentorship programs, and networking events. This JUG also collaborates with local universities to engage emerging developers and supports open-source initiatives like the Adopt a JSR program.

🇺🇸 New York Java SIG – NYJavaSIG (USA)

Leaders: Frank Greco, Barry Burd, and others.

Members: 1,100+ members on Meetup and thousands more who’ve been part of its events and network since 1995.

Founded in 1995, NYJavaSIG is the oldest Java User Group in existence. Over the years, it has hosted hundreds of talks featuring industry legends and Java Champions.

With thousands of members, NYJavaSIG remains the largest JUG in the US, influencing Java education in New York City and beyond. 

They also share talk recordings and slides, extending their reach far beyond in-person attendees.

South America

🇧🇷 SouJava (Brazil)

Leaders: Founded in 1999 by Bruno Souza (aka the Brazilian JavaMan) and Einar Saukas. Bruno Souza’s contributions earned him a Lifetime Achievement Award at JavaOne 2022. Another significant leader is Maximillian Arruda.

Members: One of the largest JUGs globally, with 40,000+ members.

SouJava is deeply embedded in Brazil’s developer scene. It was also the first JUG to gain a seat on the JCP Executive Committee, influencing Java standards at the highest level.

Beyond leadership, SouJava actively contributes to open-source projects and organizes local conferences and workshops across Latin America. If you’re in the region, this JUG is a must-join. 

🇪🇨 Ecuador JUG (Ecuador)

Leader: Alberto Salazar and a team of dedicated co-organizers.

Members: 580+

They host bi-monthly technical sessions and run study circles aimed at helping developers tackle real-world challenges and prepare for Java certifications. Beyond meetups, Ecuador JUG maintains an active GitHub presence, sharing demos and workshop materials.

🇩🇴 Java Dominicano (Dominican Republic)

Leaders: Eudris Cabrera, Carlos Camacho, Brayan Muñoz, and Freddy Peña. 

Members: 250+ and growing

Founded in February 2014, this vibrant group of 250+ members is all about collaboration and knowledge sharing. They host monthly meetups with both local and international speakers.
Their flagship event, JConf Dominicana, is the Caribbean’s only dedicated Java conference, drawing nearly 250 attendees last year. Recently, the group won the 2024 JCP Award in the Java in Education Community category, recognizing their major impact in empowering new developers. 

Asia-Pacific

🇯🇵 Japan JUG – JJUG (Japan)

Leaders: Shin Tanimoto and Yusuke Suzuki.

Members: 13,000+

JJUG is renowned for its flagship event, the JJUG Cross Community Conference (CCC), held twice a year in spring and autumn. These conferences attract around 1,000 participants, featuring sessions on the latest Java technologies and practices. In addition to the CCC, JJUG hosts monthly night seminars, which are evening sessions focusing on specific Java-related topics. 

🇮🇳 Bangalore JUG (India)

Leaders: Vaibhav Choudhary, Jayashree S Kumar, Sathish Kumar Thiyagarajan, Fairoz Matte, and Souvik Das.

Members: 12,000+

This is one of India’s most active and dynamic Java communities. It stands out for its commitment to community-driven initiatives. Notably, it organizes Javafest, an annual, non-profit technology conference.

🇮🇳 Delhi-NCR JUG (India)

Leaders: Mala Gupta and a team of organizers.

Members: 1,800+

This JUG is the heart of North India’s Java community. Right in the middle of the fast-growing Delhi tech scene, this group brings together developers, architects, and tech enthusiasts eager to push Java forward. They run deep-dive workshops, expert-led webinars, and casual yet insightful talks that cover everything from JVM performance tuning to AI in Java. 

They also engage with the community through their LinkedIn page and YouTube channel, providing access to past talks and updates on upcoming events.

🇸🇬 Singa Dev (formerly SingaJUG) (Singapore)

Leaders: Michael Isvy, Andrey Bodoev, and others.

Members: 2,200+

Originally established as a Java User Group, SingaJUG has evolved into Singa Dev to embrace a broader focus on open-source technologies and polyglot programming. 

The team of dedicated organizers coordinates regular meetups featuring talks on topics like AI coding assistants, Spring Security, and JWT. These events are designed to foster an inclusive and respectful environment, encouraging knowledge sharing among developers of all levels.

Africa

🇰🇪 Kenya Java User Group (Kenya)

Leaders: Michael Muite, Dorice Amolo, Trevor Mbugua, and Abdirahman Abdullahi.

Members: The exact number of members isn’t publicly listed.

Kenya JUG is a community of Java enthusiasts based in Nairobi, Kenya. The group focuses on collaborations among Java developers through meetups, workshops, and knowledge-sharing sessions. They are active on GitHub and YouTube, where they share their resources and knowledge. 

🇿🇦 Jozi-JUG (South Africa)

Leaders: Corneil du Plessis, Samantha Hayward and others.

Members: 3,200+

Jozi-JUG is based in Johannesburg, South Africa. This group is committed to expanding the JVM community, sharing knowledge, building technical skills, and creating lasting friendships among Java developers. Notably, Jozi-JUG was recognized with the 2023 JCP Award in the Java in Education Community category.

JUG initiatives shaping Java

JUGs don’t just bring developers together – they actively shape Java’s future. These efforts have influenced Java standardization, open-source projects, and even education:

• Adopt a JSR – Started by the London Java Community (LJC) and SouJava, this program allowed developers to contribute to Java Specification Requests (JSRs). JUGs tested early builds, provided feedback, and helped refine major Java features like lambdas in Java 8 and modules in Java 9, making Java releases more developer-friendly. The Adopt a JSR program also helped increase transparency and community trust in the JCP, which was often criticized as opaque before.
• AdoptOpenJDK / Adoptium – When developers needed free, high-quality JDK builds, JUG members stepped up. LJC-led AdoptOpenJDK provided OpenJDK binaries used in production worldwide. It later became Adoptium, now a major source of Java distributions, proving JUGs can drive open-source infrastructure.
• Devoxx4Kids – Created by Belgian JUG/Devoxx, this global initiative introduces kids to programming with Minecraft modding, Lego Mindstorms, and Java games. With JUG-led workshops from Europe to Africa, it inspires the next generation of developers while expanding Java’s reach. It has also helped break down barriers for young girls and underrepresented communities in tech.
• JUG Leadership in JCP – Some JUGs, like LJC and SouJava, hold seats on the Java Community Process Executive Committee, advocating for transparency and developer-friendly Java releases. JUG leaders have co-led JSRs and helped shape Java SE’s evolution.

Conclusion

JUGs bring developers together to learn, collaborate, and shape Java’s future. Are you part of a JUG? How has it helped you grow professionally or personally? Share your experiences and let’s highlight the impact of these communities!