Modern frontends using Spring Boot and Thymeleaf with htmx by Wim Deblauwe @ Spring I/O

Spring I/O 2022 - Barcelona, 26-27 May

Frontend development is getting more and more complex when using JavaScript frameworks like Angular or React. On top of that, the landscape is also rapidly changing. Developers claim that this is needed to build the highly interactive web experiences we all come to know and like. However, that is not true. This talk will show how you can use the productive combination of Java 17, Spring Boot, Thymeleaf, and the htmx JavaScript library to build such experiences without writing JavaScript. Adding a few attributes to your HTML will allow you to implement patterns like Click To Edit, Endless Scrolling, Lazy Loading, etc…

You might think that you need to start your new project with a JavaScript framework because you “might need that interactivity” later. This talk will show that you can use htmx to enhance your web application easily where it makes sense. For the rest of your application, use the simplicity and productivity of server-side rendering.

htmx is already making great strides in the PHP/Laravel and Python/Django world, it is time for the Java/Spring Boot world to embrace this as well.

[stephennewport]

We were pretty excited about SPA frameworks when they first came out. Now that I look back, I have to admit that none of our SPA-based apps (Vue, Angular and React) should have been done in an SPA. Building complex logic on the backend and then building all of that state management stuff on the front end .... and then having to maintain all of that complexity over the years has not been fun. And what did we gain? Nothing really. Don't get me started on keeping npm packages current. If you are in that 1% of applications (and that is generous) that needs the front-end horsepower and has a massive number of users, go for an SPA. If not take a serious look at HTMX, Unpoly or Hotwire.

[marccollin]

really great tool, created many new application with thymeleaf after i have done a few enterprise apps with angular and react. Easier to learn, take less time to create apps. I split thymeleaf apps from the backend who use rest.

[MadinabonuO]

Thank you for sharing, it's been very informative!

[miniSebsk]

Merci beaucoup pour votre travail et partage

[gonzalooviedo]

I can't believe this video is from 2022. HTMX explosion is just 2 months ago, and you guys think about it a year ago!, damn, The world is very fast!.

[xxtvccy]

Love Spring and have done for years and will continue to do so. But I will never write a front end in Thymeleaf ever again when exists React or VueJS. Spring is almost second to none when writing API's nowadays, but front ends, I'll pass.

[hwk]

Thymeleaf is bad, I prefer using angular or other typical frontend frameworks