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The Evolution of Spring and Spring Boot: A Brief History

The Evolution of Spring and Spring Boot

Introduction:

Arguably, Spring and Spring Boot are popular frameworks used in the development of web applications using the Java programming language. They were initially introduced to simplify complex web applications by providing flexibility and scalability for developers. Due to their user-friendly interface and extensive community support, these frameworks are now globally supported and recognized.

This blog will explore the frameworks’ history, evolution, and impact on Java-based web development.

The Origin of Spring Framework

To understand the concept better, let us first understand Why the Spring framework was developed.

Introduced in 2002, Rod Johnson, an Australian developer, created the Spring framework while working on a project requiring many configurations. It made him realize that he would work efficiently with a framework that would further simplify the process.

Initially developed as an alternative to the J2EE(Java 2 Enterprise Edition) for web development, Spring Framework offered a lightweight, modular, and flexible approach to building efficient web applications. This approach pushed developers to focus on business logic rather than infrastructure.

Also, one of the essential features of the Spring framework is its Inversion(IOC) container, which manages the lifecycle of the objects and all their dependencies. It allows for a much loose coupled architecture where components are quickly and effortlessly replaceable and maintainable.

The Emergence of Spring Boot

Now let us understand why Spring Boot was developed.

Introduced in 2014, Spring Boot was created by the same team that developed the Spring framework, where the goal was to simplify the process of building Spring-based applications even further. It is designed to eliminate boilerplate code and configuration that often come with building Spring-based applications. Spring Boot provides an opinionated default for developers to get started with Spring without spending hours configuring their applications.

 One of the key features of Spring boot is the embedded server that allows developers to create self-contained executable JAR files. It means developers can deploy their applications without worrying about installing and configuring a separate server.

Another notable feature is  Spring Boot’s auto mechanism, which automatically configures the application based on the dependencies added to the Project, thereby reducing developers’ need for manual configuration.

The Evolution of Spring and Spring Boot

The Spring framework was first released in 2004, and its latest version, Spring 6, was released in November 2022. Spring Observability is one of the notable features of Spring 6, which uses Micrometer and Micrometer Tracing (previously known as Spring Cloud Sleuth) to record and trace application metrics effectively. This feature is facilitated through providers like OpenZipkin or OpenTelemetry.

The latest version is Spring Boot 3.0, released in November 2022. It simplifies observation creation with Micrometer 1.10’s new APIs. The ObservationRegistry interface provides a single API for metrics and traces. Spring Boot automatically configures an instance of ObservationRegistry for easy use in your applications.

Both frameworks continue to evolve with regular updates, providing new features and improvements for developers. Always refer to official documentation and release notes for the latest information.

The Impact of Spring and Spring Boot 

Spring and spring boot are widely used globally and are necessary tools for Java-based web development. Spring framework’s lightweight and modular approach to building web applications has turned the industry. On the contrary, spring boots’ opinionated defaults and auto-configuration have simplified the process even more.

The grand success of Spring and Spring Boot lies in its large community that has developed around them and is well known for its active development of the framework and willingness to share knowledge and furnish support to other developers.

Which should you choose between Spring Boot vs. Spring?

If you are in search of a comprehensive framework with extensive features for creating complex Java applications, Spring is a good choice. It provides an array of functionalities such as MVC architecture, RESTful web services, security, caching, and more. Spring gives you more flexibility and customization options but may require more configuration and setup.

While if you need a simplified and convention-over-configuration approach for building Java applications quickly, Spring Boot is a better choiceIt includes an embedded web server and pre-configured templates, making it easy to create standalone, production-ready applications with minimal configuration. Spring Boot is ideal for rapid development, prototyping, or projects with tight deadlines. So when it comes to Spring vs Spring Boot, you need to consider the specific needs of your Project and choose the framework that best fits your requirements.

Conclusion:

Spring and Spring Boot have played a significant role in the evolution of Java-based development, and their impact can be witnessed across the globe. They are poised to remain at the forefront of web development for years. Hire Spring Boot developers to stay updated with the latest features and enhancements and leverage the power of Spring and Spring Boot for your subsequent Web Development Project. 

About the author

Editor N4GM

He is the Chief Editor of n4gm. His passion is SEO, Online Marketing, and blogging. Sachin Sharma has been the lead Tech, Entertainment, and general news writer at N4GM since 2019. His passion for helping people in all aspects of online technicality flows the expert industry coverage he provides. In addition to writing for Technical issues, Sachin also provides content on Entertainment, Celebs, Healthcare and Travel etc... in n4gm.com.

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