Spring vs. Spring Boot: A Complete Comparison

Spring and Spring Boot are two of the most influential frameworks for Java-based application development, both facilitating the creation of robust, scalable applications. With a substantial 22% market share, the Spring framework is revered as a popular, reputable Java framework.

Spring Boot, developed as an extension of the Spring framework, seeks to streamline Spring applications’ initial setup and ongoing maintenance. It provides an opinionated approach to configuration, enabling developers to get their applications up and running with minimal fuss.

What Is Spring?

The Spring framework is a powerful, versatile tool for building Java applications. As a comprehensive programming and configuration model, Spring provides infrastructure support for developing Java apps. Its core features facilitate the entire development process, from initial setup to deployment and beyond.

Flexibility and customization are core tenets of the Spring framework. It does not impose any specific programming model. Instead, it accommodates and works alongside multiple approaches, from traditional deployment to more modern, reactive styles, ensuring that developers can tailor the framework to their specific needs.

What Is Spring Boot?

Spring Boot is an extension of the Spring framework designed to simplify configuring and deploying Spring applications. It builds upon the robust foundations of Spring by offering a way to organize Spring configurations with minimal developer input, aiming for an out-of-the-box, production-grade setup.

Overall, Spring Boot enhances the Spring ecosystem by providing a pragmatic, opinionated way to set up and run a Spring application, significantly reducing the development time and effort needed to launch a project. This makes it especially appealing for developers looking to quickly deploy applications without sacrificing the flexibility and robustness offered by Spring.

Spring vs. Spring Boot: Key Features and Differences

Spring and Spring Boot serve as cornerstones in Java development but cater to slightly different needs through their unique approaches. Understanding their differences is crucial for selecting the appropriate framework for specific project requirements.

Feature	Spring	Spring Boot
Approach and Philosophy	Offers a robust foundation for Java applications, allowing complete control over configurations and setups, promoting flexibility and customization.	Builds on Spring to simplify the application lifecycle using a convention-over-configuration philosophy, preferring preset, out-of-the-box options.
Configuration Style	Requires explicit configuration, which gives developers detailed control over application behavior but can increase complexity and setup time.	Uses auto-configuration and starter kits to reduce the amount of manual configuration needed, making setup quicker and easier by assuming default behaviors based on included libraries.
Development Speed	Typically slower to configure due to the need for a specific setup, but offers greater control, which can be critical for complex, customized application scenarios.	Designed for rapid development, enabling quick setup, configuration, and deployment, ideal for projects requiring fast iterations, such as microservices and cloud-native applications.
Ideal Use Cases	Best suited for applications requiring specific, finely tuned configurations or integration with legacy systems. Useful in educational settings for deep learning.	Best for applications that benefit from quick development cycles and where default configurations are adequate. Highly suitable for new projects and microservices architecture.

Code Examples: Spring vs. Spring Boot Configuration Differences

Spring Configuration

Spring Boot Configuration

The Spring example requires explicit configuration for data source setup, while Spring Boot uses properties files with minimal Java configuration, leveraging auto-configuration.

When To Choose Spring or Spring Boot

You can make an informed decision between using Spring or Spring Boot by carefully evaluating the project’s specific needs and the preferences of the development team. Your choice will impact the project’s development timeline, maintainability, and scalability.

Best Practices and Tips

Adhering to Spring and Spring Boot best practices is essential to unleash their full potential and ensure maintainable, efficient, and secure code.

Working With Spring

Working With Spring Boot

Conclusion

Spring offers deep control and extensive customization options suitable for complex applications that require fine-tuned configurations. However, Spring Boot accelerates application development and simplifies the operational overhead with its convention-over-configuration approach, making it ideal for newer, microservices-oriented projects that value rapid deployment.

Both frameworks strongly support database operations, transaction management, and security, making them indispensable in the modern software development landscape. Depending on your project’s specific requirements, team expertise, and development timelines, either Spring or Spring Boot can be an excellent choice.

If you’re looking to dive deeper or require assistance with their Java-based projects, Flatirons offers custom enterprise software development services tailored to your needs. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the primary benefits of using Spring Boot over the Spring framework?

Spring Boot simplifies the development process by providing an opinionated approach to configuration with auto-configuration, eliminating much of the manual setup required in the Spring framework. This leads to faster development times, easier maintainability, and a quicker start for new projects.

How does Spring Boot enhance application security compared to Spring?

Spring Boot integrates security seamlessly with starters such as Spring Security, which provides robust authentication and authorization capabilities. While Spring also supports Spring Security, Spring Boot automatically configures security settings, offering sensible defaults that can be customized.

Can Spring and Spring Boot be used together in the same project?

Yes, Spring Boot will work on top of the Spring framework and enhance its functionality, not replace it. It simplifies many of Spring’s manual configurations and adds auto-configuration features. Projects can leverage both frameworks’ strengths, using Spring for fine-grained control where needed and Spring Boot for ease of configuration and setup.

What is the best way to handle database migrations in Spring Boot?

Spring Boot works well with database migration tools like Flyway or Liquibase. These can be integrated via Spring Boot starters, which automatically configure the chosen tool to manage database migrations as part of the application startup process, ensuring the database schema is always up to date.

How can developers optimize Spring Boot applications for production?

To optimize Spring Boot for production:

1. Use Spring Boot’s production-ready features like the actuator for monitoring and management.
2. Customize the auto-configuration settings as needed to suit production requirements.
3. Review and minimize logging levels to avoid performance overhead.
4. Employ caching strategies to reduce database load.
5. Ensure that application properties are externalized and secure.