Spring Boot Backend Development Course, Development Environment, Installing IntelliJ on Windows

Hello! In this blog, we will learn about Spring Boot backend development. Backend development is responsible for data processing and business logic in web applications, and various tools and frameworks are needed to perform these functions efficiently. Among them, Spring Boot is a Java-based framework that allows for rapid and convenient development. This article will provide detailed instructions on how to set up the development environment necessary for using Spring Boot, particularly how to install and configure IntelliJ in a Windows environment.

1. What is Spring Boot?

Spring Boot is an extension of the Spring framework designed for rapid application development. It reduces complex XML configurations and provides minimal settings required to run the application. Spring Boot supports embedded servers (e.g., Tomcat, Jetty), making it easy to deploy and run applications.

2. Features of Spring Boot

  • Auto Configuration: Spring Boot automatically performs basic configuration, helping developers use it easily even if they are not familiar with it.
  • Standalone Application: Spring Boot applications are packaged with an embedded server and can run independently.
  • Starter Dependencies: It provides starter packages to quickly add required dependencies.
  • Actuator: It offers functionality to monitor the state and performance of the application.

3. Setting Up the Development Environment

To use Spring Boot, you will need the Java Development Kit (JDK), an IDE like IntelliJ IDEA, and Spring Initializr. This section will explain how to install and configure IntelliJ on Windows.

3.1 Installing JDK

  • Download JDK: Download the JDK from Oracle’s official website or OpenJDK.
  • Installation: Run the downloaded file to install it. After installation, set the environment variable to specify `JAVA_HOME` as the installation directory of the JDK.
  • Verification: Open a command prompt and enter the command java -version to verify the installation was completed successfully.

3.2 Installing IntelliJ IDEA

IntelliJ IDEA is a Java IDE provided by JetBrains, optimized for Spring Boot development. Let’s follow the steps to install IntelliJ.

Step 1: Download IntelliJ

Step 2: Installation

  • Run the downloaded installation file.
  • Follow the installation wizard’s instructions. You can choose useful options like “Create Desktop Shortcut” during the installation options.

Step 3: Initial Setup

  • Once the installation is complete, launch IntelliJ.
  • Select “Do not import settings” to use the default configuration.
  • Choose the theme and other user settings.

Step 4: Installing Plugins

  • You can install Spring-related plugins from IntelliJ’s plugin marketplace. Go to “File” -> “Settings” -> “Plugins” menu, search for necessary plugins in the “Marketplace” and install them.

4. Creating a Project Using Spring Initializr

After installing IntelliJ, let’s learn how to create a Spring Boot project. Using Spring Initializr allows you to easily create a project template.

Step 1: Create a New Project

  • Run IntelliJ and select “New Project.”
  • Select “Spring Initializr” on the left and click “Next.”

Step 2: Enter Project Metadata

  • Group: com.example
  • Artifact: demo
  • Name: demo
  • Package Name: com.example.demo
  • Packaging: Selectable (jar or war)
  • Java Version: Choose the JDK version you will use.

Step 3: Add Dependencies

  • You can select “Spring Web” for web development and “Spring Data JPA” for database connectivity.
  • After adding dependencies, click “Next” and then “Finish” to create the project.

5. Basic Structure of a Spring Boot Project

Let’s explain the basic directory structure of the generated project. A Spring Boot project has the following structure:

com
└── example
    └── demo
        ├── DemoApplication.java
        ├── controller
        ├── service
        └── repository
  • DemoApplication.java: This is the entry point of the Spring Boot application. It performs Spring configuration and component scanning via the @SpringBootApplication annotation.
  • controller: Contains controller classes responsible for handling web requests.
  • service: Contains service classes that handle business logic.
  • repository: Contains repository classes for database access.

6. Creating Your First REST API

Now let’s create a simple REST API that returns user information.

Step 1: Create a Controller

package com.example.demo.controller;

import org.springframework.web.bind.annotation.GetMapping;
import org.springframework.web.bind.annotation.RestController;

@RestController
public class UserController {
    
    @GetMapping("/users")
    public String getUsers() {
        return "User List";
    }
}

Step 2: Run the Application

  • Run the DemoApplication.java file in IntelliJ to start the application.
  • Access http://localhost:8080/users in a web browser to verify the result.

7. Conclusion

In this article, we covered how to set up a backend development environment using Spring Boot, how to install IntelliJ, and how to create your first REST API. Spring Boot provides powerful features and flexibility, so I encourage you to continue exploring its various functionalities. The next article will discuss how to integrate a database and create more complex APIs. I hope you learn a lot through consistent practice and hands-on experience.

Thank you!