Spring Framework vs Spring Boot

By Nitin • Feb 06, 2026

Spring Framework vs Spring Boot

Before we talk about Spring Boot, we need to understand why it was needed.

Let’s not start with technology.
Let’s start with a real-life story.

First, What Is a Framework?

A framework is not an application.
It is a ready-made structure that helps you build an application.

Real-Life Example: Building a Coaching Class

Imagine you want to start a coaching class.

You have two choices:

Build everything from scratch
Use a pre-planned setup

A framework is like a pre-planned structure that tells you:

Where classrooms should be
How seating is arranged
Where the board goes
How students enter and exit

You still teach.
The framework just guides how things are organised.

In software:

You write business logic
The framework controls flow and structure

What Are Tools in a Framework?

A framework comes with tools that help you do your work faster.

Real-Life Example: Teacher’s Toolkit

A teacher uses:

Marker
Board
Attendance register
Test papers

These tools don’t teach students — the teacher does.
But without them, teaching becomes difficult.

In Spring Framework, tools include:

Dependency Injection
MVC
Data access
Security

They support your application but don’t replace your logic.

The Problem Before Spring Framework

Earlier, Java applications were:

Hard to test
Tightly coupled
Difficult to change

Developers had to manually:

Create objects
Manage dependencies
Control lifecycle

It was like a teacher teaching without a classroom structure.

What Spring Framework Solved

Spring Framework introduced order and discipline.

Real-Life Parallel

Spring Framework is like a school management system:

Students are registered
Teachers are assigned
Classes are scheduled
Rules are followed

Spring:

Creates objects for you
Manages relationships
Injects dependencies when needed

This made applications cleaner and maintainable.

Then Why Did Spring Feel Difficult?

Spring Framework gave everything, but expected you to set it up manually.

Real-Life Example: New Coaching Branch

Every time a teacher opens a new coaching branch, they must:

Find a building
Arrange benches
Install fans and lights
Set up internet
Hire staff

Even though teaching remains the same, setup work repeats.

Similarly, with Spring Framework:

Server setup repeated
Configuration repeated
XML or Java config repeated

This repeated setup is called boilerplate work.

What Is Boilerplate Code?

Boilerplate code is code you write again and again, even though it’s almost the same.

Real-Life Example

Imagine filling this form daily:

Name
Date
Subject
Signature

The content changes, but the structure doesn’t.

In Spring Framework:

Same configuration
Same setup
Same wiring logic

Developers spent more time on setup than features.

What Is Server Setup?

Server setup means preparing a place where your application runs.

Real-Life Example

Before students can attend class:

The classroom must exist
Electricity must work
Seating must be ready
Drinking water and washroom facilities

In traditional Spring:

Install Tomcat
Configure ports
Deploy WAR files

No server = no application.

What Is Configuration?

Configuration means telling the system how it should behave.

Real-Life Example

For a coaching class:

Class timings
Batch size
Subjects taught
Fees

Without configuration, teaching becomes chaotic.

In Spring:

Which database to use
Which port to run on
Which component talks to which

Enter Spring Boot – Why It Was Created

Spring Boot was created to remove repeated setup pain.

Real-Life Analogy (Very Important)

Spring Boot is like a fully equipped coaching center:

Classrooms ready
Electricity, internet available
Whiteboards installed
Admin handled

The teacher walks in and starts teaching.

What Spring Boot Actually Does

Spring Boot:

Automatically configures common things
Provides embedded server
Sets sensible defaults
Reduces boilerplate code

You can still customize, but you don’t have to start from zero.