Spring Boot Learning Path

Prerequisites:

1. Java Programming:

   • Basics: Classes, variables, loops, object-oriented programming (OOP), collections, and generics.

   • Advanced: Design patterns, JVM, threads, servlets and JSPs, concurrency, and garbage collection.

   • Build Tools: Maven, Gradle, Ant.

   • Servers: Tomcat, WebLogic, JBOSS, WebSphere, Jetty.

   • Testing: Unit testing, integration testing with JUnit and Mockito.

   • Logging: Log4j, Log4j2, Logback.

2. Spring Framework:

   • Core: Bean life cycle, dependency injection, inversion of control, bean factory, and application context.

   • Web: Annotations, MVC structure, configurations, integrating different libraries/frameworks, profiles.

   • AOP: Understanding how AOP works, creating pointcuts, join points, and aspects.

1. Getting Started with Spring Framework

• Overview of the Spring Framework and its ecosystem.

• Key terms and concepts used in Spring.

• Understanding the architecture of the Spring Framework.

• Why Spring? Benefits and reasons for using Spring.

• Different ways to configure Spring applications.

• Dependency Injection: Core concept of Spring for managing dependencies.

• Spring IOC: Inversion of Control and its implementation in Spring.

• Spring AOP: Aspect-Oriented Programming in Spring for cross-cutting concerns.

  • Join Points: Points in the program execution where aspects can be applied.

  • Pointcuts: Expressions that define where advice should be applied.

  • Advice: Action taken by an aspect at a particular join point.

  • Aspects: Modules that encapsulate cross-cutting concerns.

  • Weaving: Process of linking aspects with other application types or objects to create an advised object.

• Spring MVC:

  • Servlet: Java classes for handling requests and responses.

  • JSP Files: JavaServer Pages for building dynamic web content.

  • Architecture: Understanding the architecture of Spring MVC.

  • Components: Key components of the Spring MVC framework.

• Annotations: Common annotations used in Spring for configuration and development.

• Spring Bean Scope: Different scopes of beans in Spring.

2. Spring Boot Basics

• Understand the difference between Spring and Spring Boot.

• Create a "Hello World" application using Spring Boot.

• Learn about Spring Boot Starter Parent and create a multi-module Maven project.

• Build a basic CRUD REST API using annotations like @GetMapping, @PostMapping, @PutMapping, and @DeleteMapping

• Change the default port and context path of an embedded server.

• Disable the startup banner and get all loaded beans with class type information.

• Configure custom PropertyEditor and CommandLineRunner.

• Configure Jetty and embedded Tomcat servers.

• Read files from the resources folder and inject application arguments.

• Manage application properties and YAML configuration.

• Understand Spring Boot logging and application configuration.

3. Spring Boot Advanced

• Learn how Spring Boot simplifies application development with its opinionated approach.

• Understand how Spring Boot auto-configures beans and components.

• Learn to customize and add configurations as needed.

• Manage application settings using properties and YAML files.

• Integrations with Other Libraries/Frameworks.

4. Building REST APIs

• Design REST APIs using Spring Boot and Spring MVC.

• Implement internationalization, response compression, and JSON data handling.

• Add custom headers and retry mechanisms.

• Document APIs with Swagger and Springdoc-OpenAPI.

• Use OpenFeign for REST client creation.

• Learn REST API best practices, including exception handling and testing.

• Understand HTTP methods (POST, GET, PUT, DELETE, OPTIONS, TRACE) and status codes (1XX, 2XX, 3XX, 4XX, 5XX).

5. Persistence

• Learn Database:

  • SQL: MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle.

  • NoSQL: MongoDB, Cassandra.

  • Spring Data: Spring Data JPA, Spring Data MongoDB, Spring Data JDBC.

• Hibernate:

  • Transactions: Managing database transactions in Hibernate.

  • Relationships: Mapping relationships between entities.

  • Entity Lifecycle: Understanding the lifecycle of entities in Hibernate..

• Work with SQL databases using Spring Boot, JPA, Hibernate, and HikariCP.

• Configure multiple data sources and caching with Ehcache and Caffeine.

• Implement CRUD operations and pagination.

• Use database migration tools like Flyway or Liquibase.

6. Security

• Authentication: Mechanisms for verifying user identity.

• Authorization: Controlling access to resources based on user roles.

• OAuth2: Protocol for authorization and secure API access.

• JWT Authentication: Using JSON Web Tokens for stateless authentication.

• Implement CORS, SSL, and role-based security.

• Secure REST APIs with OAuth2, JWT, and basic authentication.

• Learn Spring Security basics and advanced concepts like OAuth2 and form authentication.

7. Microservices

• Learn Microservices:

  • Spring Cloud: Gateway, Config, Circuit Breaker, OpenFeign, Sleuth, and other projects as needed.

  • DevOps: Docker, Kubernetes, cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure).

  • Microservices Patterns: Aggregator, CQRS, SAGA, Event Sourcing.

  • Microservices Queues: SQS, Kafka, RabbitMQ.

• Understand microservices architecture and its benefits.

• Implement design patterns and secure microservices with OAuth2.

8. Logging, Monitoring, and Deployment

• Use Spring Boot profiles, Dev Tools, and Actuator for monitoring.

• Implement AOP and package applications as WAR or JAR.

• Dockerize applications and configure logging with Log4j2 and Lombok.

• Deploy applications using Docker, Kubernetes, and cloud platforms.

9. Testing

• Test Spring Boot applications using JUnit, Mockito, and TestRestTemplate.

• Perform integration testing with MockMVC and WireMock.

• Explore advanced testing techniques with @RestClientTest and @DataJpaTest.

10. Spring RestTemplate and WebClient

• Use RestTemplate for REST API interactions, including basic auth and timeouts.

• Transition to WebClient for non-blocking requests and explore its features.

11. Async Programming

• Build asynchronous REST APIs with @EnableAsync and SseEmitter.

• Test async controllers with MockMvc and explore RSocket.

12. Advanced Topics

• Dive into Spring Boot auto-configuration and custom starters.

• Explore Spring Boot's integration with GraphQL, SOAP, and JMS.

• Learn about new features in Spring Boot 3, such as ProblemDetail and ErrorResponse.

13. Reactive Programming

• Explore reactive programming with Spring WebFlux.

• Understand the Reactor library and its components like Mono and Flux.

• Implement reactive REST APIs and integrate with reactive data sources.

14. Event-Driven Architecture

• Learn about event-driven architecture and its benefits.

• Use Spring Cloud Stream for building event-driven microservices.

• Integrate with messaging systems like Kafka and RabbitMQ.

15. Serverless Applications

• Explore serverless architecture and its use cases.

• Deploy Spring Boot applications as serverless functions using AWS Lambda or Azure Functions.

16. Exploring Behind the Scenes

• Understand how Spring Boot auto-configuration works.

• Learn about architecture concepts like Domain Driven Design (DDD) and modular monoliths.

• Explore Spring Modulith for building modular monolithic applications.