Java Department Turns 20: How One of NIX’s Largest Teams Celebrated Its Birthday 🥳

In 2004, the Java Department was just a group of people with different stacks working in a small open space. Now, it’s one of the largest departments at NIX ☝️. For their 20th birthday, the team decided to celebrate this incredible journey and cherish their special sense of belonging to the community 💖

Viktoriia Izmailova, the Department Assistant who managed everything from A to Z, will share all the details in her own words. Enjoy!

We started planning the celebration 6 months in advance

My enthusiasm alone wouldn’t have been enough without the amazing people who joined in. As the driving force behind the idea, I believe we gave it 1000% 🔥. And it was incredibly rewarding to see the smiles on my teammates’ faces.

The evening before, we decorated our space with balloons and branded the walls. The excitement was palpable, but I was already buzzing with that contagious energy 💃 

The festive morning began with a little bash

We cranked up the music and welcomed everyone with drinks 🥂. Every detail was carefully planned to create the perfect vibe and kick off the day in style!

To top it off, everyone showed up in the branded “I’m a Java Engineer” T-shirts. Picture this: a squad in black tees, champagne in hand, humming and chatting. This is exactly why I love these people 🌺

After an aperitif and warm hugs… 

We invited everyone up to the 7th floor for a birthday livestream 🎦. Modern parties call for modern formats 😁, and we had a blast planning it all — scripting, setting up, and rallying the guests. A huge shoutout to our admins and PRs for making it happen. Despite the pre-show jitters, the stream was a hit!

Leading the show were our dear hosts — Oleg Chaban, Team Lead of JavaProd, and Yura Holod, Team Lead of JavaCNG. The most charismatic of the charismatic 💎

Yurii Holod, Team Lead of JavaCNG
When I was invited to be a host, I agreed right away. You might ask, “Did you enjoy it?” My answer is: ABSOLUTELY YES!

I won’t delve into the behind-the-scenes details, but the event was truly engaging. We continuously adapted the process and mechanics based on the feedback and data we gathered during planning. We brainstormed ideas, explored new solutions, and, as a result, created an amazing event!

But rest assured, JavaDept, there’s more to come 😎

The stream began with a lineup of guests who have been with the Java Department for varying lengths of time — some for the full 20 years since its inception, others for 10, 5, 3 years, and even a newcomer who joined recently. Each guest shared their part of the story, covering major projects, personal experiences, and memories.

It was incredible to piece together the department’s history and see how our team has grown and evolved 🌱

Imre Szucs, Java Developer
From the moment I joined NIX, I felt a welcoming and supportive atmosphere that made my transition super smooth. Being part of the Java Department has been especially rewarding 😌. Cool events, awesome teammates always ready to help and give advice… We even have our own branded T-shirts! Yeah, it may seem like a small detail, but it perfectly symbolizes the strong community spirit and pride 🦾

The recent birthday event was not only a lot of fun but also an opportunity to hear amazing stories about my teammates’ experiences and to learn more interesting things about our department. I love this tradition of celebrating big milestones and achievements 🙌. It has brought us closer together and reinforced the supportive culture that makes working here so enjoyable!

Oops, hold up!

We know a one-and-a-half-hour stream can be a lot to take in, so we spiced things up with fun video breaks 🍿. During one of these breaks, we shared screenshots of chats where Java experts asked their relatives, “What do I do for a living?”. It turns out that being a Java expert is a veeery broad profession, and you can’t just call it a “coder” 🙅🏻‍♀️

Some responses were wildly creative, like “you’re working as a Satisfaction Engineer” or “doctor of software medicine”. My personal favorite is, “You just click-click and drink coffee all day”. Period 💅🏻

Oleg Chaban, Team Lead of JavaProd
The stream was going great! Since I was on camera, I can’t give you an outsider’s perspective, but in my opinion, everything flowed super smoothly. I’ll admit that hosting pushed me out of my comfort zone — I was definitely nervous — but I did my best to stay cool and give it my all 🤘

Afterward, I finally got to relax and had a blast at the after-party 🕺🏻. That was definitely the highlight of my day. But no surprise there — JavaDept always knows how to throw a killer bash!

We’re inching closer to the finale: the Awards

Before day X, we asked each of the Java team leads to select nominees with the most impressive achievements. They didn’t stick to specific categories — just highlighted the stars in their own right.

In total, 25 nominees were announced, and each will soon receive a statuette for their outstanding contributions to the department 🏆

Among them is a record-breaking girl who completed an internal Java course in just 1 month, and her record still stands 🎯. Then there’s the genius behind our skill matrix, known as “Max aka Morpheus”. See? Our team is full of diverse talents!

Yurii Holod, Team Lead of JavaCNG
The most challenging parts were managing a sea of champagne from early morning and selecting the award nominees 😁. So many of our teammates deserved recognition (I’d say all of them!), but we had to choose only 25 of the best. It felt like trying to pick stars from a galaxy 🌠
Ultimately, we were able to highlight some truly outstanding contributions and celebrate the exceptional talent within our team 😍

Of course, balloons, champagne, and awards are great, but…

What’s a birthday without cake and gifts? 

After the stream ended, we all gathered to make a wish and blow out the candles on our birthday cake 🎂. It was the most touching and sweet ending we could have hoped for!

We tried everyone to feel special, so we also prepared gift boxes for the whole Java team 🎁. Each box includes a branded cap, a set of fabric markers for customization, and tons of love and appreciation.

Viktoriia Izmailova, Department Assistant
To sum it up, the day was absolutely amazing, unforgettable, and oh-so warm! It felt just like celebrating your birthday with friends. Everyone pitched in, creating the perfect atmosphere ✨

When we called guys over for cake, the whole crew jumped in to help. Some grabbed balloons, while others took care of the goodies and drinks. What I also loved was the endless laughter and the bright, lively emotions that filled the entire office 💕

Truth be told, the NIX office is always buzzing with highlights and unmatched energy ⚡️. From cozy celebrations to unforgettable milestones, we’re all about keeping the team spirit alive. So stay tuned — more excitement and cool news from our daily life are headed your way!