Understand Differences between Spring vs Spring Boot

You know, Spring is the world’s most popular Java framework which is used by many developers for developing enterprise Java applications. Perhaps one of the most confusions that comes to a new developer’s mind is the terms Spring vs. Spring Boot. How do they relate? What are the differences?

So in this post, I’d like to help you clear this confusion - understand the key concepts and differences of Spring and Spring Boot.

Note: In this article, the term Spring refers to the Spring platform as a whole - Not core of Spring framework.

1. Spring vs Spring Boot: What are they?

Let’s understand the definition first. What Spring (platform) is and what Spring Boot is actually about.

What is Spring?

Spring is an ecosystem of projects that make programming Java quicker, easier, and safer for everybody. Spring’s focus on speed, simplicity, and productivity. The main projects under Spring’s umbrella are:

• Spring Boot
• Spring Framework (Core)
• Spring Data
• Spring Cloud
• Spring Security
• Spring Integration
• Spring Batch
• Spring Web Flow
• Spring Web Services
• …

What is Spring Boot?

Spring Boot is a way that helps developers get started with Spring framework with minimum effort. Spring Boot makes it easy to create stand-alone, production-grade Spring-based apps.

Spring Boot is a project of Spring platform - it is not a replacement of Spring Framework. Developers use Spring Boot to save time and increase productivity. Learn more about Spring Boot.

2. Spring vs Spring Boot: Differences in Development

You can develop a Spring-based application with or without Spring Boot. So what are the differences?

• Development without Spring Boot:
• Lots of XML configs and/or Java-based configurations
• Managing versions of dependencies is nightmare
• Apps run on an external server (deployed as WAR)
• Lots of time spent on configuration and writing boilerplate code
• Project setup time: HIGH

Development with Spring Boot:

• No XML configuration
• Use starter dependencies that greatly simplify dependency management
• Stand-alone apps with embedded server (executable JAR)
• Automatically configure Spring and 3^rd party libraries with sensible defaults
• Project setup time: SUPER QUICK

3. Spring vs Spring Boot: Conclusion

So far I have explained the key differences between Spring and Spring Boot. Hope you’re pretty clear now. To sum up:

• Spring is a huge framework that consists of many projects
• Spring Boot is a Spring’s project
• Spring Boot provides a set of libraries that greatly simplifies development of Spring-based apps
• You can create Spring-based apps without or with Spring Boot
• Use Spring Boot is easier and more productive
• Spring Boot is the standard way for developing Spring-based apps

Learn more: What is Spring Boot actually about? (and what it is not)

Tutorials:

• Spring Framework Tutorials
• Spring Boot Tutorials
• Spring Security Tutorials

About the Author:

Nam Ha Minh is certified Java programmer (SCJP and SCWCD). He began programming with Java back in the days of Java 1.4 and has been passionate about it ever since. You can connect with him on Facebook and watch his Java videos on YouTube.