1. Preparing the Development Environment
In this tutorial, we will learn in detail how to set up a backend development environment using Spring Boot. Spring Boot is a Java-based framework that allows for quick development and deployment, making it a preferred platform for many developers. However, to develop effectively, it is essential to set up an appropriate development environment. The necessary tools are as follows:
- Java Development Kit (JDK)
- IntelliJ IDEA (IDE)
- Maven or Gradle (Build Tools)
- Git (Version Control System)
- PostgreSQL or MySQL (Database)
2. Installing JDK and Setting Environment Variables
To develop a Spring Boot application, JDK is required. The JDK is a tool that helps to develop Java applications. Here’s how to install JDK:
2.1 Downloading and Installing JDK
1. Visit Oracle’s [JDK download page](https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/javase-jdk11-downloads.html) or [AdoptOpenJDK](https://adoptopenjdk.net/) to download the latest version of the JDK.
2. Run the downloaded file to proceed with the installation. If there are no special settings during the installation process, you can proceed with the defaults.
2.2 Setting Environment Variables
Once JDK installation is complete, you need to set the environment variables:
Windows:
1. Right-click 'This PC' and select 'Properties'.
2. Click 'Advanced system settings'.
3. Click the 'Environment Variables' button.
4. Select 'Path' in the 'System variables' section and click 'Edit'.
5. Add the path to the JDK’s bin folder (e.g., C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-11\bin).
6. Create a 'JAVA_HOME' variable and set it to the JDK installation path.
macOS/Linux:
1. Open the terminal.
2. Add the following commands to .bash_profile or .bashrc:
export JAVA_HOME=$(/usr/libexec/java_home)
export PATH=$JAVA_HOME/bin:$PATH
3. Save the file and restart the terminal.
3. Installing IntelliJ IDEA
Next, we will install IntelliJ IDEA, the core tool of this tutorial. IntelliJ IDEA is a Java IDE created by JetBrains and is one of the best choices for Spring Boot development.
3.1 Downloading IntelliJ IDEA
1. Visit the [official IntelliJ IDEA website](https://www.jetbrains.com/idea/download/).
2. Choose either the Community version or the Ultimate version to download. The Ultimate version includes additional Spring support and commercial features, but you can adequately participate in the tutorial using the Community version.
3.2 Installing IntelliJ IDEA
1. Run the downloaded installation file.
2. Follow the instructions in the installation wizard to proceed. Adjust installation options if necessary.
3.3 Initial Setup of IntelliJ IDEA
Once the installation is complete, you’ll need to perform the initial setup when you first run IntelliJ IDEA:
- Select a skin and theme.
- Set the basic keymap. (You can proceed with the defaults.)
- Install plugins for future tutorials. (Spring-related plugins are recommended.)
3.4 Configuring JDK in IntelliJ
1. Run IntelliJ IDEA.
2. Select ‘File’ → ‘Project Structure’.
3. In the ‘Project’ tab, choose ‘Project SDK’ and set the JDK path.
4. Installing Maven/Gradle Build Tools
Spring Boot comes with two main build tools, Maven and Gradle. This tutorial will focus on Maven. The usage of Gradle will be covered separately later.
4.1 Installing Maven
1. Visit the [official Maven website](https://maven.apache.org/download.cgi) to download the latest version of Maven.
2. After extracting the files, add the path of the ‘bin’ folder to the system environment variables.
4.2 Configuring Maven Environment
1. Once Maven installation is complete, open a terminal or command prompt and enter the following command to check if it was installed successfully:
mvn -v
If the version information of Maven is displayed, it has been installed successfully.
5. Installing and Configuring Git
We will install Git for version control. Git is an open-source version control system that allows for effective collaboration and version management.
5.1 Downloading and Installing Git
1. Download the Git installation file suitable for your operating system from the [Git download page](https://git-scm.com/downloads).
2. Follow the instructions in the installation wizard to proceed with the installation.
5.2 Initial Git Configuration
After installation, configure the basic settings of Git with the following commands:
git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "Your Email Address"
6. Installing and Configuring a Database
Spring Boot supports several databases. We will choose one of either MySQL or PostgreSQL to install.
6.1 Installing MySQL
1. Download MySQL from the [MySQL download page](https://dev.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/).
2. Follow the instructions in the installation wizard to proceed with the installation.
6.2 Installing PostgreSQL
1. Download PostgreSQL from the [PostgreSQL download page](https://www.postgresql.org/download/).
2. Follow the instructions in the installation wizard to proceed with the installation.
7. Creating a Spring Boot Project
Now that IntelliJ IDEA and the necessary tools are installed, let’s create a Spring Boot project.
7.1 Creating a Spring Boot Project in IntelliJ
1. Run IntelliJ IDEA and select ‘New Project’.
2. Choose ‘Spring Initializr’.
3. Enter the required information:
- Group: com.example
- Artifact: demo
- Name: demo
- Description: Demo project for Spring Boot
- Package name: com.example.demo
- Packaging: Jar
- Java: 11 (the version selection may vary based on JDK)
4. Add the necessary dependencies. (e.g., Spring Web, Spring Data JPA, MySQL Driver, etc.)
5. Click the ‘Finish’ button to create the project.
8. Conclusion
In this tutorial, we explained how to set up a basic development environment for Spring Boot development. We learned to install and configure essential tools such as JDK, IntelliJ IDEA, Maven, Git, and a database. You are now ready to start backend development through a Spring Boot project.
9. Preview of the Next Tutorial
In the next tutorial, we will run the Spring Boot project we created and cover how to build a RESTful API. Let’s start serious backend development based on what we’ve learned!