Simon Martinelli

Keep IT simple

Brownfield Enterprise Java. Modernized with AI and Spec-Driven Development.

I help companies evolve established systems – without a big bang and without losing control over architecture and development. With Spec-Driven Development and AI agents, I make existing systems easier to understand, requirements more precise, and modernization more predictable.

The goal is not to rebuild everything from scratch, but to evolve what already works – using AI where it delivers a real advantage.

Understand first. Then specify. Then develop.

AI can generate code at impressive speed. But the fundamental question remains: What is the software actually supposed to do?

That is why specifications are at the heart of Spec-Driven Development. Requirements, use cases and models provide the foundation for code, testing and validation.

AI takes on much of the implementation. Your team remains in control of the requirements, architecture and decisions.

That is at the core of my work.

Spec-Driven Development:
From Specs to Code with AI Agents

How can AI agents be meaningfully integrated into software development without losing control or compromising quality?

In my new book, I show how Spec-Driven Development and AI work together – with a practical, structured approach and concrete examples from enterprise software development.

Order Now

I Am Your Partner for…

Consulting

I support you in selecting future-proof technologies and architectures – with a clear focus on AI integration and sustainable scalability.

Where strategy meets vision.

Development

I modernize existing applications or implement new systems based on modern, AI-supported architectures.

From concept to excellence.

Training

I enable your development team to use AI methods and modern software practices safely and productively.

Expertise through practice.

Simon Martinelli
Java. Architecture. AI.
More than 30 years of experience.

I’m a software architect, developer, consultant and trainer with more than three decades of experience in Java and enterprise software development.

As a Java Champion, Vaadin Champion and Oracle ACE Pro, I focus today on how AI is changing the way we develop and modernize complex software systems.

I am the creator of the AI Unified Process (AIUP) and the author of Spec-Driven Development: From Specs to Code with AI Agents.

I also teach at Swiss universities of applied sciences and share my expertise at conferences, in workshops and through my blog.

Modernization doesn’t have to be a major project

Modernizing established systems doesn’t have to mean a big bang or an unpredictable risk. With a clear approach, existing applications can be understood, specified and evolved step by step.

The AI Unified Process (AIUP) combines Spec-Driven Development with AI. AI supports analysis, specification and development – while architecture, requirements and decisions remain transparent and under your team’s control.

This turns AI from another source of complexity into a tool for predictable, sustainable modernization.

What you can expect from my work

Security &
Speed

Mobile Availability &
Responsiveness

Low Maintenance
Costs

Optimal
Integration

Customer Voices

Feeback Orange

Workshop: Spec-Driven Development with AI Unified Process & Claude Code

As Head of Software Engineering at Orange Business Digital Switzerland AG, I always enjoy working with Simon Martinelli as a trainer for our in-house software engineering training courses.
His workshop on Spec Driven Software Development with AI agents was also excellently prepared, practical and tailored precisely to our needs. In my opinion, its underlying approach (AIUP) is very convincing and clearly shows how modern software development with AI can develop sustainably.
I particularly appreciate Simon's eye for the big picture and his ability to convey complex topics in an understandable and tangible way. Our developers were able to pick up a lot of concrete information and apply it directly. I can fully recommend Simon as a trainer and would be happy to book him for our teams again.

Thomas Wenger | Head of Software Engineering
Orange Business Digital Switzerland AG

Feedback IT Processing

Workshop: Software Development with AI

The workshop was not only a demonstration of "wow, it's all just cool and you don't have to think about anything anymore", but Simon also pointed out the critical points, such as security, and showed how to deal with them. The AIUP's approach was particularly instructive, which covers the entire lifecycle of creating a specialist application with AI and not just the coding part. For me, the workshop also showed how quickly the software development process is changing thanks to AI. It will become more important to properly understand customer processes right from the start and the teams will become leaner. I can only recommend the workshop.

Carmelo Calabrò | Head of Development
it-processing AG

Feedback OC

Workshop: Spec-Driven Development

We have fond memories of Simon’s “AI Driven Software Development” workshop. I particularly liked the highlighted symbols that encourage, enable and empower the software engineer. The workshop once again made it clear who has control and responsibility and how and where AI can provide perfect support. Even though the AI world has moved on since the workshop, I can recommend the workshop with a clear conscience.

Alican Bühler | Software Architecture, Lead Dev
openconcept AG

Feedback Swiss

Workshop: Spec-Driven Development with AI Unified Process

The workshop “Spec-Driven Development with AI Unified Process” was an educational experience for us in modern software development using AI agents. The practical part of the workshop in particular made the possibilities for efficient modernization and development of applications tangible. We use the knowledge gained in current and future projects. We can warmly recommend the workshop.

David Di Donato | Software Architect, Project Manager
SwissPension AG

Feedback Swiss

Modern, future-proof web-based ERP solution

Simon Martinelli supported us over several years as we built the web version of our ERP solution, tosca. He convinced us to develop the UI framework ourselves - based on Vaadin and Spring Boot - rather than relying on a low-code platform. In retrospect, this was one of the most important decisions in the product's history.

Simon played a pivotal role in shaping the foundation of tosca.web and co-developed a significant portion of the framework; the nearly 7,000 commits he made over the years speak for themselves. He also provided valuable input on our development processes - such as build pipelines and automated testing - thereby tangibly advancing our team's capabilities.

Simon is a forward thinker who remains pragmatic and generously shares his knowledge with the team. The fact that we now have a modern, future-proof web-based ERP solution on the market is largely due to his contributions.

Kaspar Walter | Head of Development tosca.web

dynasoft AG

Feedback Orange

Workshop: Spec-Driven Development with AI Unified Process & Claude Code

As Head of Software Engineering at Orange Business Digital Switzerland AG, I always enjoy working with Simon Martinelli as a trainer for our in-house software engineering training courses.
His workshop on Spec Driven Software Development with AI agents was also excellently prepared, practical and tailored precisely to our needs. In my opinion, its underlying approach (AIUP) is very convincing and clearly shows how modern software development with AI can develop sustainably.
I particularly appreciate Simon's eye for the big picture and his ability to convey complex topics in an understandable and tangible way. Our developers were able to pick up a lot of concrete information and apply it directly. I can fully recommend Simon as a trainer and would be happy to book him for our teams again.

Thomas Wenger
Head of Software Engineering
Orange Business Digital Switzerland AG

Feedback IT Proc

Workshop:
Software Development with AI

The workshop was not only a demonstration of "wow, it's all just cool and you don't have to think about anything anymore", but Simon also pointed out the critical points, such as security, and showed how to deal with them. The AIUP's approach was particularly instructive, which covers the entire lifecycle of creating a specialist application with AI and not just the coding part. For me, the workshop also showed how quickly the software development process is changing thanks to AI. It will become more important to properly understand customer processes right from the start and the teams will become leaner. I can only recommend the workshop.