What is Spring Boot? #SpringBoot #SpringSource #SpringAI #SpringMVC #Java #Jakarta #MVC #JPA #JDBC

Spring Boot is an extension of the Spring Framework that simplifies the process of building production-ready Spring applications. It does this by providing default configurations, opinionated setups, and embedded servers, allowing developers to create standalone applications with minimal setup. Spring Boot aims to make it easy to create microservices and modern web applications quickly, with a heavy focus on convention over configuration.

Key Differences:
Spring Framework:

Core Functionality: The Spring Framework provides the foundation for building enterprise Java applications. It includes core concepts like dependency injection, aspect-oriented programming, and transaction management. The Spring Framework is highly modular, but it requires extensive configuration.
Configuration: It typically relies on XML configuration or Java-based configuration, which can become complex and verbose, especially in larger projects.
Flexibility: Spring Framework is highly flexible and not opinionated, meaning developers can customize it extensively according to their needs but at the cost of more setup and boilerplate code.
Spring MVC:

Web Layer: Spring MVC is a module within the Spring Framework specifically designed for building web applications. It follows the Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern, providing tools for handling HTTP requests, responses, and view rendering.
Integration: Spring MVC can be integrated into any Spring application, typically requiring explicit configurations, including defining controllers, view resolvers, and more.
Requires a Server: It relies on an external server like Tomcat, Jetty, or Undertow, which must be set up separately.
Spring Boot:

Simplification: Spring Boot simplifies the entire Spring ecosystem by offering default setups, auto-configuration, and embedded servers (like Tomcat, Jetty, or Undertow). This means applications can be up and running quickly with little to no manual configuration.
Opinionated: It’s opinionated, meaning it provides sensible defaults for most application needs. Developers can still override these defaults but often find the out-of-the-box setup meets their requirements.
Standalone Applications: Spring Boot enables developers to build standalone applications that don’t require an external web server. Applications can be packaged as executable JAR files with embedded servers, simplifying deployment.
Microservices Friendly: With built-in support for metrics, health checks, and externalized configuration, Spring Boot is well-suited for building microservices.
Summary:

Spring Boot is an enhancement of the Spring Framework that streamlines application development with minimal configuration.
Spring Framework provides the foundational structure for enterprise Java development.
Spring MVC is specifically for web applications within the Spring ecosystem, focusing on the MVC design pattern.
Spring Boot stands out for its ease of use, opinionated setups, and ability to run applications independently, making it ideal for rapid development and deployment of microservices and modern web applications.