Difference between spring and spring boot
The Spring Framework is a powerful and comprehensive programming and configuration model for modern Java-based enterprise applications. Spring Boot builds on the Spring Framework, providing a simpler and faster way to develop Spring applications, focusing on convention over configuration.
What is Spring Framework?
The Spring Framework is an open-source application framework for the Java platform. It provides a comprehensive infrastructure support for developing robust Java applications. Its core features include Dependency Injection (DI), Aspect-Oriented Programming (AOP), and transaction management. Spring's modular nature allows developers to use only the parts they need, such as Spring MVC for web applications or Spring Data for database interactions.
- Provides a robust framework for enterprise Java development.
- Focuses on DI and IoC (Inversion of Control) to reduce coupling.
- Supports various modules like Spring MVC, Spring Security, Spring Data, etc.
- Requires more explicit configuration (XML or Java-based) for setting up projects.
- Doesn't come with an embedded server; applications are typically deployed to external servers like Tomcat or Jetty.
What is Spring Boot?
Spring Boot is an extension of the Spring Framework that aims to simplify the development of new Spring applications. It takes an opinionated view of the Spring platform and third-party libraries so you can get started with minimum fuss. Spring Boot allows you to create stand-alone, production-grade Spring applications that you can 'just run'.
- Simplifies and accelerates Spring application development.
- Emphasizes 'convention over configuration' through auto-configuration.
- Provides 'Starter POMs' to simplify dependency management.
- Includes embedded servers (Tomcat, Jetty, Undertow) by default.
- Offers production-ready features like metrics, health checks, and externalized configuration (Spring Actuator).
Key Differences: Spring vs. Spring Boot
| Feature | Spring Framework | Spring Boot |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | A comprehensive framework for building enterprise Java applications. | An opinionated framework to simplify and accelerate Spring application development. |
| Configuration | Requires extensive XML or Java-based configuration (more manual setup). | Minimizes configuration through auto-configuration and 'convention over configuration'. |
| Dependency Management | Manual management of dependencies, potentially leading to version conflicts. | Simplifies with 'Starter POMs' that group common dependencies with compatible versions. |
| Embedded Servers | Does not include embedded servers; typically deployed to external servers. | Includes embedded Tomcat, Jetty, or Undertow, allowing stand-alone executable JARs. |
| Boilerplate Code | Requires more boilerplate code for project setup and configuration. | Significantly reduces boilerplate code, especially for typical setups. |
| Project Setup | More steps involved in setting up a new project from scratch. | Rapid project setup, often using Spring Initializr. |
| Production Readiness | Requires additional configuration for monitoring, metrics, health checks. | Includes built-in production-ready features via Spring Actuator. |
Conclusion
In essence, Spring is the underlying powerful framework, while Spring Boot is a tool built on top of Spring to make it easier, faster, and more efficient to develop and deploy Spring-based applications. When you use Spring Boot, you are still using the Spring Framework; you are just doing so with less effort and configuration, benefiting from its opinionated defaults and streamlined development experience.