Spring Boot vs. Spring Framework

Attribute	Spring Boot	Spring Framework
Dependency Management	Automatically manages dependencies	Requires manual dependency management
Configuration	Convention over configuration	XML-based configuration
Embedded Server	Includes embedded server (Tomcat, Jetty)	Does not include embedded server
Auto-configuration	Provides auto-configuration of beans	Requires explicit configuration of beans
Standalone Application	Can be run as standalone application	Requires deployment in a container

Introduction

Spring Boot and Spring Framework are two popular Java frameworks that are widely used for building enterprise applications. While both frameworks are part of the larger Spring ecosystem, they have distinct differences in terms of their features, capabilities, and use cases.

Overview

Spring Framework is a comprehensive framework that provides support for building enterprise applications using Java. It offers a wide range of features such as dependency injection, aspect-oriented programming, and transaction management. Spring Framework is highly customizable and allows developers to build complex applications with ease.

On the other hand, Spring Boot is a more opinionated framework that aims to simplify the development of Spring applications. It provides a set of conventions and defaults that allow developers to quickly set up and run Spring applications without the need for manual configuration. Spring Boot is ideal for building microservices and standalone applications.

Architecture

Spring Framework follows a modular architecture where different modules can be used independently or together to build applications. It provides a wide range of modules such as Spring Core, Spring MVC, and Spring Data, each serving a specific purpose in the application development process.

Spring Boot, on the other hand, follows a more opinionated architecture where it provides a set of defaults and conventions to simplify the development process. It includes embedded servers, auto-configuration, and starter dependencies that help developers get started quickly without the need for manual setup.

Configuration

Spring Framework requires developers to manually configure their applications using XML or Java-based configuration. This allows for greater flexibility and customization but can be time-consuming and error-prone, especially for beginners.

Spring Boot, on the other hand, uses convention over configuration to automatically configure the application based on sensible defaults. Developers can override these defaults using properties files or annotations, making it easier to get started with Spring applications.

Dependency Management

Spring Framework relies on tools like Maven or Gradle for managing dependencies in the application. Developers need to manually specify the dependencies in the project configuration file, which can be cumbersome for large projects with many dependencies.

Spring Boot simplifies dependency management by providing starter dependencies that include all the necessary dependencies for common use cases. Developers can include these starters in their project and let Spring Boot handle the rest, reducing the need for manual dependency management.

Testing

Spring Framework provides support for unit testing and integration testing using tools like JUnit and Mockito. Developers can easily write test cases for their Spring applications to ensure the correctness of their code.

Spring Boot includes support for testing out of the box, making it easy for developers to write and run tests for their applications. It provides utilities for testing controllers, services, and repositories, allowing developers to test their code in isolation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both Spring Boot and Spring Framework have their own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to building enterprise applications. Spring Framework offers a comprehensive set of features and flexibility for building complex applications, while Spring Boot provides a more opinionated approach for quickly setting up and running Spring applications.

Ultimately, the choice between Spring Boot and Spring Framework depends on the specific requirements of the project and the preferences of the development team. Both frameworks have their place in the Spring ecosystem and can be used effectively to build robust and scalable applications.