The Spring Framework simplifies the development of Java enterprise applications, empowering developers to select specific architectures tailored to application needs. As of Spring Framework 6.0, we require Java 17+ to develop Spring applications. In this series, we will discuss the different components of the core Spring Framework which will help us better understand the framework.

What is “Spring”?

The term “Spring” is often used to refer to the entire family of projects built on top of the Spring Framework. Over time, Spring has evolved from just being a Framework to a family of projects each allowing the developer to easily develop applications. But, at the core of Spring Framework we still have the two main components; the configuration model and the dependency injection mechanism. Other than these, each project provides distinct functionalities such as :

  • Messaging,
  • Transactional Data and Persistence,
  • and Web Projects

History of the Spring Framework

The Spring Framework came into existence in 2003 when the intricacies of J2EE specifications demanded a more elegant solution. Since then, the framework has evolved, embracing the principles of Dependency Injection and Common Annotations specifications. A significant milestone is marked by Spring Framework 6.0’s upgrade to Jakarta EE 9, reflecting a commitment to staying updated with the latest industry standards. Evolving over time Spring Framework has got additional projects such as :

  • Spring Boot,
  • Spring Security,
  • Spring Data,
  • Spring Cloud,
  • Spring Batch, and others

Design Philosophy

With each iteration of the Spring Framework, certain design philosophies are followed, making Spring easy to use. These are :

  • Spring allows developers to defer decisions until the last possible moment, providing flexibility
  • Provides strong backward compatibility ensuring a smooth transition to newer Spring versions
  • High quality code and documentation, and thoughtfully designed APIs

In the next post, we will start with the core components of the Spring Framework which will provide us with a better understanding of the framework as a whole.

References

  • Spring Framework Docs