So, you are seeking out the best Spring books. Just tie your seatbelt as we take you through your 10 best Spring Books out there.
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Spring is one of the most popular open-source Java platforms. You can consider it as a Java-based framework that allows for multiple web applications. Ever since it came out in 2003, Spring has gained exponential traction. Why? Well, it has some striking core features.
- Allows developers to create enterprise-level applications
- Well-organized and offers easy application testing
- Lightweight IoC container
- Provides a convenient API
- Comes with a powerful abstraction
Given its popularity, even seasoned Java developers are finding it essential to learn Spring. Despite the availability of free and paid courses, books are an ideal way to get intimate with Spring. For your benefit, we elaborate on a list of the top 10 Spring books to make your learning process easier and quicker.
Best Spring Books
1. Spring in Action
Description: Spring in Action is a practical guide to Spring Framework. The subsequent editions of the book are updated to the latest iteration of Spring. The book doesn’t work if you’re a complete novice developer. Mind you, it requires a working knowledge of Java to make the most of the book. In this book, the author walks you through all the basic concepts of Spring, how to use them and why to use them.
The author presents everything clearly and concisely, making it an exciting read. A free PDF or Kindle version is available with the book. All the lab solutions are also downloadable, which is helpful in case you get stuck working with the book. The book’s latest edition (6th edition) is upgraded for Spring 5.3 and Spring Boot 2.4. Also, the book discusses essential features of Spring Security in detail.
- Originally Published: 2008
- Author: Craig Walls
You can buy this book here.
2. Getting Started with Spring Framework
Description: This book focuses on developing applications using Java Spring Framework 5. With this book, you can expect to get familiar with the core concepts of DI and Spring Web MVC. The authors handle advanced topics like AOP, Messaging, RESTful web services, and Web Programming well.
Some of the other topics discussed in the book include Spring WebFlux, Stream API, Reactive support, and more. Every topic concludes with a practical code example to help grasp the concepts quickly and effectively. Plus, you can download the illustrations.
- Originally Published: 2012
- Author: Ashish Sarin, Jauti Sharma
You can buy this book here.
3. Spring MVC: A Tutorial
Description: Sorry newbies, you are not the target audience of this book. The book starts right from codes ideally suited for anyone with some background knowledge of Java and Web Programming. It caters to anyone who wants to leverage Spring MVC to come up with Java-based applications. After all, MVC is right in the name.
MVC or Model-View-Controller in Spring is a coveted skill. This popular Spring Java Framework is extensively used to develop Graphical User Interface. The book starts with some proven, basic concepts and then gradually moves onto newer ideas. It moves at a decent pace for effortless reading. Also, you can count on the book for examples that work, unlike many Spring books.
- Originally Published: 2014
- Author: Paul Deck
You can buy this book here.
4. Spring Microservices in Action
Description: This book elaborates strategies to create microservice-based applications with the help of Spring Framework. Here, microservice-based patterns for configuring, routing, and scaling are explored through a series of real-life instances.
The book is designed for Java developers with an elementary knowledge of Spring. Besides, the book’s prime focus is to explain client resiliency patterns, event-driven architecture, and service routing. At the face value, you might find the book to be smaller than most other Spring books. However, it doesn’t compromise the information. It’s concise and devoid of any fluff and unnecessary details and deviations.
- Originally Published: 2017
- Author: Edward John Carell
You can buy this book here.
5. Cloud Native Java
Description: Cloud Native Java is for Java developers who want to build better, faster software using Spring Boot, Spring Cloud, and Spring Foundry. With 648 pages, the book is a lengthy read, as it attempts to cast a wider net to cover a large portion of Spring. That makes it a handy Java Spring tutorial.
The book is not heavy on texts as the authors’ approach to concepts is more through examples than whole pages of texts. On the downside, the formatting could be an issue for the average reader. It does a lot of to and fro between concepts rather than building on subsequent chapters. This might be a turn-off for many.
- Originally Published: 2017
- Author: Josh Long, Kenny Bastani
You can buy this book here.
6. Spring Data
Description: “Spring Data” deals with the nitty-gritty of handling big data using Spring Data. It is a must-read for anyone who’s developing applications that interact with a data source. Also, the book discusses in detail the Apache Hadoop framework, a typical choice for handling big data.
With the book, you can always expect to get insights into some other topics, such as Object-NoSQL mapping, REST API, CRUD search, and so on. The language is clean, easy to follow, and fluff-free. The Spring examples for beginners included in the book are concise and straightforward, demonstrating a relatively wide view of the Spring Framework.
- Originally Published: 2012
- Author: Mark Pollack, Oliver Gierke, Thomas Gisberg, Jon Brisbin, Michael Hunger
You can buy this book here.
7. Spring 5 Design Patterns
Description: It’s your best bet to gain solutions to common design issues in Spring 5. Plus, you get insights into the best design practices for applications. You can count on the book for an introduction to Spring Framework 5.0 and design patterns.
In the latter half, the book discusses topics like JDBC templates pattern, MVC patterns. It ends with details about advanced topics like Reactive Streams and Concurrency. Remember, the basic Spring knowledge is a prerequisite for reading the book. It will position you to understand the design patterns better and also appreciate the best practices.
- Originally Published: 2017
- Author: Dinesh Rajput
You can buy this book here.
8. Spring Integration in Action
Description: This book deals with enterprise integration and messaging using Spring Integration Framework. It is an excellent resource for any developer working with Spring integration. Developers familiar with Java, Spring, and EIP will have a clear edge over others while working with this book.
Readers are showcased real-world enterprise integration in an easy-to-follow format. The book also emphasizes testing, which is not found in other Spring books on the list. The book ends with a broad discussion on advanced topics like concurrency, performance, system management, and monitoring.
- Originally Published: 2012
- Author: Mark Fisher, Jonas Partner, Marius Bogoevici, Iwein Flud
You can buy this book here.
9. Spring 5 Recipes: A Problem-Solution Approach
Description: This book tries to troubleshoot all the problems a newbie might face with Spring in Java. It has some reusable recipes, read solutions that come in handy for anyone trying to build an application from scratch.
When starting a new project, you can copy and edit parts of the codes provided in the book. This reduces the time spent on any project. Spring MVC and REST are also discussed in detail, making this book a must-have for any serious programmer. The latest Spring 5 features, such as Spring Framework 5, reactive Spring, and Spring 5 Microservices are the new inclusion in this book.
- Originally Published: 2017
- Author: Marten Deinum, Daniel Rubio, Josh Long
You can buy this book here.
10. Pro Spring 5: An In-Depth Guide to the Spring Framework and Its Tools
Description: This comprehensive guide is one of the complete Spring books available as of now. Going well over 800 pages, the book equips you with all the required information to build complex Spring applications.
New topics of Spring Framework 5 also find a place in the book. However, it isn’t suitable for newbies. You need to first understand the fundamentals of Spring and Java to capitalize on the book’s content.
The book covers all the aspects of programming with Spring. Also, it’s well organized and can also double up as an everyday reference for Spring.
- Originally Published: 2017
- Author: Iuliana Cosmina, Rob Harrop, Chris Schaefer
You can buy this book here.
Conclusion
Spring is easy to learn, more so for experienced Java developers. The list carries some of the best Spring books out there but it is not an exhaustive list. If you find some other more helpful books, do let us know in the comments section. We are all ears!
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