Are you looking for an application that is easy and simple to use as a developer? You might also have questions like, What are the advantages of Spring Framework? This article will help you make a final decision.
The Spring Framework (Spring) is an open source program advancement system that gives infrastructure support for building fundamental Java-based applications. The spring framework focuses on handling the infrastructure while you work on your application in the sense that it eliminates tough configuration work so that developers can focus on writing codes and building applications; this makes creating applications less time-consuming and more efficient.
Apart from the fact that Spring Framework is much easier to use in terms of usability, Spring Framework has many more advantages. These advantages include dependency injection, easier testing, loose coupling, decreased boilerplate code, lightweight, comprehensive spring framework modules, flexibility and many more.
What is Spring Framework?
Spring Framework is an open-source framework that is known for building Java enterprise-related applications. It is a low-cost and flexible framework that provides support for other frameworks and brings solutions to different technical problems.
Spring framework consists of 20 modules, which include: expression language, core, context, beans, AOP (Aspect Oriented Programming), instrumentation, aspects, JDBC, ORM, JMS, transaction, web, servlet, struts, and so on. These modules help in the creation and design of Java EE applications.
Brief History Of spring Framework
In 2002, Rod Johnson created the Spring Framework after highlighting the deficiencies of the then-prevailing Java Enterprise Edition. He created the spring perimeter work to complement the Java EE because he was sick of the complexity and challenges that came with the Java EE.
This is why he decided to create a flexible and lightweight framework to ease Java development. The Spring framework was introduced with features like dependency injection and AOP (Aspect-Oriented Programming) which brought about a simpler solution to Java development.
Since Spring framework was introduced, it has continued to evolve and is one of the most used frameworks for building Java enterprise applications worldwide.
Advantages of Spring Framework
The Spring Framework has a lot of advantages for Java developers and enterprise applications. Let us take a look at some of them below:
1. Easy and simple to test
Due to the modular makeup of the Spring framework and support for dependency injection, it makes it easier to write tests for Java applications, which in turn promotes test-driven development practices and improves the quality of the application generally.
2. Pre-defined template
Spring framework contains different types of templates for Hibernate, JDBC and JPA technologies. With the aid of these templates, developers are not required to write complex code. It saves time and makes work faster.
3. Loose coupling
The dependency injection mechanism in the Spring framework helps to make the application loosely coupled, which makes it easier to facilitate unit testing.
4. Fast development
With the aid of dependency injection, it is easy to develop a Java Enterprise Edition-based application by integrating the framework and support of the dependency injection function.
5. Lightweight IOC
Spring Framework is a light-weight framework, which is why developers can create applications with restricted memory and CPU resources.
6. Modularity
Spring framework consists of different modular architectures, which makes it easier for developers to use the modules they require, which keeps the application lightweight.
7. Declarative support:
The spring framework provides declarative support for transactions, formatting, caching and validation.
8. Community support:
Spring Framework has an active community of developers across the globe that provides documentation, tutorials and resources. It makes it easier for developers to learn and troubleshoot challenges related to the framework through community support.
9. Strong security:
Spring framework security provides authentication and authorization systems for securing Java applications. This comes with some features, such as user authentication, role-based access control and integration with external authentication providers.
10. It is non-invasive
Compared to the plain old Java Object technique, spring framework is easier to utilize because it does not make it compulsory for the developer to start a project based on implementing an interface.
Types of Spring Framework
The spring framework consists of different modules, each of which performs different functions in various aspects of Java enterprise development. Let us take a look at some key examples of the types of modules within the Spring Framework System.
1. Core spring framework
This particular framework serves as the building block of other spring projects.it is responsible for controlling important features such as Aspect Oriented Programming (AOP), dependency injection and lifecycle management.
2. Spring boot
This is an extension of the spring framework. It is a faster and more efficient development ecosystem. Spring boot makes it easy to set up the configuration of Spring-based applications through auto-configuration and default settings. It also has an integrated server to make sure there are no complexities during application development.
3. Spring data
Spring Data offers template-based access for data manipulation; it eases the development of applications with consistent programming modules. Spring Data provides support for APIs for accessing different types of data stores, including databases and more.
4. Spring Model View Controller (MVC)
This is majorly used in the development of web applications. This framework is made up of a wide range of flexible architectures that are used in creating web applications.
5. Spring security
Spring Security is known for features such as authorization, authentication, coding functions and other security mechanisms. It is a very useful and secure authentication and access control framework used in keeping java applications secure.
6. Spring integration
This is an integral part of the spring framework that facilitates the integration of different elements of applications. Spring integration serves as a connecting tool to different messaging systems and protocols by providing a lightweight messaging framework.
7. Spring batch
It serves as a framework for building batch processing applications in Java. Spring batch makes it easier to develop batch jobs by providing parallel processing, chunk-based processing and transaction management features.
8. Spring cloud
The Spring Cloud is a framework for building cloud-native applications and microservice-based architectures. It has features like circuit breakers, distributed configuration and many more.
Uses of Spring Framework
The Spring Framework provides plenty of features, such as flexibility, versatility, extensive and modular features, which are used in Java enterprise development for different purposes. Let us take a look at some of the uses of the spring framework:
1. Dependency injection
The spring frameworkâs dependency injection feature was put in place to simplify object creation and aid loose coupling between components through Inversion of Control (IOC). Dependency injection makes code easy to test and makes the code loosely coupled so it can be easy to maintain.
2. Web development
From the types of frameworks listed above, Spring MVC provides the framework responsible for building web applications and supporting APIs.
3. Aspect Oriented Programming (AOP)
This framework is responsible for modulating the cross-cutting challenges associated with application. It performs the functions of authentication, caching, logging, improving code maintainability, transaction management and many more.
4. Transaction management framework
The spring data access framework combines with the transaction management framework to allow developers to build defined transactional systems throughout the application using annotations or XML configuration. This system permits users to work with international and locally based transaction-wise logic; it also saves points and allows smooth transaction management across the application.
5. Data access framework
The Spring Framework provides support for data access and allows developers to integrate easily with different databases and data stores, ensuring a common data access operation. One of the major challenges faced by developers when creating an application is database communication, which is why the Spring Framework provides wide-spread data access support for Java frameworks like Hibernate and Java Persistence API (JPA).
6. Batch processing
As earlier discussed in the article, the spring framework simplifies batch processing application development, making it easier for developers to execute batch jobs with features such as chunk-processing, error handling, etc.
7. Security
spring framework provides security in the form of authentication and authorization techniques for securing Java applications. It also provides additional security features for support in application development.
8. Integration
Spring Framework provides a lightweight framework that facilitates the integration of different systems and applications.
9. Testing
Spring framework promotes test-driven development practices. Spring is made up of a lot of modules and supports dependency injection, which makes it easy to incorporate tests for Java applications.
10. Micro services
Spring Framework provides tools for building cloud-native applications and microservices, including circuit breakers, self-discovery and so on.
Java EE (Enterprise Edition)
You might be wondering what Java EE means, as it has been mentioned in some parts of the article. The Java Enterprise Edition, now known as Jakarta EE, is a set of specifications used for developing Java applications.
Java Platform, (Enterprise Edition) is an application software platform from Oracle based on the Java programming language. Initially created by Sun, which Oracle obtained in 2010, Java EE administrations are performed in the middle level.
This is between the user’s machine, the enterprise’s databases and legacy information systems. Java EE comprises specification, reference implementation and a set of testing suites. Its center component is Enterprise JavaBeans (EJBs), followed by JavaServer Pages (JSPs), Java servlets and a variety of interfaces for connecting to the data resources within the enterprise. Java EE has all the basic and complete components used in building applications. That means a developer does not have to build from scratch but can easily leverage the tools that Java EE provides.
In conclusion, the Spring Framework is a powerful tool for Java developers that provides them with a standard set of modules for enterprise application development. Developers can leverage the various frameworks for increased productivity, versatility, and flexibility in software projects and applications.