When starting to develop both Java EE and Spring Framework applications, there are few prerequisites. As both Spring Framework and Java EE are based on Java, the installation of the artifacts given in the following steps can be used for both:
- Installing a Java development kit
- Choosing a Project management and Build tool
- Integrated development environment
In fact, the only step that is truly required is the first one – installing the Java Development Kit (JDK). JDK is the technological essence of every Java EE or Spring application. It contains many crucial parts assembling the resulting applications and, among them, the Java Compiler (javac) dominates.
However, the process of application assembly, be it a plain Java application, Java EE application, Spring Framework application, or any other framework, is represented by a complex set of steps. Remembering the sequence of steps is complex and unnecessary. A well-chosen Project management and build tool automates the process of application assembly into a single command. This leads to trouble-free and lightning-fast development. In reality, it is recommended to use a dependency management tool for every project. Among other lesser-used options, there are two important Project management tools:
- Apache Maven (www.maven.apache.org)
- Gradle (www.gradle.org)
Creating Microservices with both Java EE and the Spring Framework does not strictly depend on any build tool. For the sake of simplicity, Apache Maven is going to be used throughout this book. Apache Maven is well established in the Java ecosystem and has wide support among Integrated Development Environments (IDE).
The IDE provides assistance during the process of creating the application itself, including further integration with Project management tools, Code generation, and Auto-completion. This book respects the choice of each and every reader and is written as completely IDE-invariant. The code presented in this book relies on JDK and Apache Maven as a build and dependency management tools.
If you are new to the Java ecosystem, there are several IDEs to choose from:
- Apache NetBeans
- Eclipse IDE/Spring Tool Suite
- IntelliJ IDEA
Apache NetBeans, an IDE with origins back in 1996, tends to be the first choice for Java EE development. Eclipse IDE, first released in 2001, plays a significant role in the lives of Spring Framework developers. There is a special edition named Spring Tool Suite (STS). This edition of Eclipse provides extensive support for Spring application development.
IntelliJ IDEA is not an IDE available for free when it comes to Java EE or Spring Framework development. IntelliJ IDEA provides the best of both worlds of STS and NetBeans, and can be recommended for the development of both.