Spring boot versions : Detailed explanation of the different versions and releases of Spring Boot (AI Generated)
Here’s a detailed explanation of the different versions and releases of Spring Boot, focusing on what’s most relevant from a Java Developer / Software Developer interview perspective — followed by a visual timeline.
๐ What is Spring Boot?
Spring Boot is a tool built on top of the Spring Framework to make it easier and faster to build, test, and deploy Java applications — especially REST APIs and microservices.
Key Concepts:
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Auto-Configuration
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Embedded servers (Tomcat/Jetty)
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Opinionated defaults
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Spring Boot Starters
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Actuator for Monitoring
๐ Major Spring Boot Versions & Features (Interview-Centric)
๐น Spring Boot 1.x (2014–2017)
Spring Boot 1.0 released in April 2014
Features:
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Introduction of @SpringBootApplication
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Embedded Tomcat, Jetty, or Undertow
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Auto-configuration and Starters
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Properties-based configuration (
application.properties) -
Basic Spring Actuator
Interview Notes:
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Understand why Spring Boot was introduced
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Know how it simplifies Spring development
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Questions may ask: How does Spring Boot achieve auto-configuration?
๐น Spring Boot 2.x (2018–2022)
Spring Boot 2.0 released in March 2018
Key Features:
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Spring Framework 5 baseline
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Full Reactive Programming support (WebFlux)
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Enhanced Actuator with metrics and Prometheus support
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Java 8+ required
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Performance and startup time improvements
Later 2.x Updates:
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Native support for Kubernetes, Micrometer, Spring Data JPA
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Spring Boot 2.4 added support for Config Data API
Interview Notes:
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What is Micrometer? How do you monitor a Spring Boot app?
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Be ready to explain WebFlux vs Spring MVC
๐น Spring Boot 3.x (Nov 2022 – Present)
Spring Boot 3.0 released in Nov 2022
Key Features:
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Based on Spring Framework 6
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Java 17+ required
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Support for GraalVM native image compilation
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Migration to Jakarta EE 9 (
javax.*→jakarta.*) -
More efficient startup & memory for cloud-native and microservices
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Native support for modern testing, observability, and tracing
Interview Notes:
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Why the shift to Jakarta EE?
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What’s the role of GraalVM native images?
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You may be asked: How do you migrate a Spring Boot 2.x app to 3.x?
๐ Key Differences Table
| Feature | Spring Boot 1.x | Spring Boot 2.x | Spring Boot 3.x |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Framework | 4.x | 5.x | 6.x |
| Java Version Support | Java 6/7/8 | Java 8 to Java 17 | Java 17+ |
| Reactive Programming | ❌ | ✅ WebFlux | ✅ Improved |
| Jakarta EE Migration | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ Required |
| GraalVM Native Support | ❌ | Limited | ✅ First-class support |
| Actuator / Metrics | Basic | Extended + Micrometer | Enhanced with Observability |
| Embedded Web Servers | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
๐ง Interview Questions to Expect
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What is the difference between Spring and Spring Boot?
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How does Spring Boot auto-configuration work?
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Explain how Actuator helps in production readiness.
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What are Starters in Spring Boot?
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How do you monitor and trace microservices in Spring Boot?
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Differences between Spring Boot 2.x and 3.x?
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How to migrate Spring Boot apps to Jakarta EE 9 (3.x)?
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