What should I learn before Spring Framework

[Brian Storenson]

I need to read the spring doc. I need to specifically read the intro, IoC container, Resources, Validation, Data Binding, Type Conversion, and Testing. I'm reading the IoC section right now and it seems really hard for me to grasp.

I know core java, but I haven't read JEE. What should I know before reading the Spring doc? From my research, I think I need to understand JSP/Servlets before learning Spring. Do I need to read all of the chapters in JEE, or can I skip some sections? Thanks.

[Bear Bibeault]

Spring is vast. What part are you asking about? Only a small percentage of Spring has anything to do with JSP and Servlets.

Similarly, JEE is vast. Most people use a very small percentage of it, if any.

[Brian Storenson]

Hi Bear, thanks for your help. My goal is to start to contribute code at my internship in a few weeks hopefully. The site will use the Spring container. There is a basic prototype ( i think that is the right term) for the website for me to look at. My manager hasn't started yet. He is transitioning from his old job, so it's a little hard to get help from him. There is no other developers on the team.

I was told to read the Spring doc sections: IoC container, Resources, Validation, Data Binding, Type Conversion, and Testing. I am having a hard time with the material. I have watched some of these videos http://javabrains.koushik.org/p/spring-framework.html on core Spring and they have helped.

I think the material is hard for me to learn from, because I have no experience with JEE. What should I know before learning these parts of the Spring framework? I prefer to see complete examples like what you would see in a beginners Java book. The Spring doc isn't like that.

[Bear Bibeault]

If this is for a web app, then likely it's using SpringMVC. For that it would be useful to know the fundamentals of Servlets and JSP. The rest of JEE is irrelevant.

[Michael A Hoffman]

Everyone learns differently, but I prefer to grab sample code and debug away. Spring's samples can be found here:

http://www.springsource.org/samples

As Bear mentioned, you don't need much of the JEE spec for what you will likely be doing.

First, you should understand how Spring does dependency injection. Its fundamental to Spring.

Once you understand it, as Bear mentioned, focus on SpringMVC. Again, the samples should help.

As you go along, feel free to ask more specific questions to get you through.

[Brian Storenson]

Thank you for your advice. I just wanted to add for posterity, the javabrains videos make it easier for someone learning Spring, because they explained to me what a factory pattern was. It also explains how you would design your java programs to work in this framework. They explain what a container, xml, and a bean are, and how they work with other objects. I think you should know this stuff before reading the documentation for Spring.

[Michael A Hoffman]

Yes, good point. Spring is based heavily on design patterns. If you have not read and know the GoF patterns, as well as many of the patterns from Martin Fowler, its recommended as well before starting Spring.

[Jayesh A Lalwani]

I had a hard time understanding the basics of Spring from the Spring docs. They are a good reference guide, but I found hard to learn spring from them, and I'm familiar with a lot of JEE technologies and design patterns before I started

I would reccomend reading Spring In Action. Most of the things that you have described (and more) except testing are covered in the first part which is 150+ pages. Covering the first part will give you a good grounding in Core Spring. You can then delve into various other Spring libraries. You don't need to know anything besides Core Java to follow the examples. However, understanding design patterns will give you a richer understanding.

If you only have a few weeks, I would reccomend going through the first part of Spring In Action. It will get you to a point where you won;t be completely lost in a Spring project. You will get to a point where you can learn things on the job.

[Brian Storenson]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Besides the factory pattern, what specific design patterns will help me learn Spring better?

[Jayesh A Lalwani]

Try to understand InversionOfCOntrol. Although, you won't understand why IoC is important until you understand the factory patterns too well.

If you want to understand how AoP works, try to learn Decorator and Proxy design pattern

[Brian Storenson]

Is Spring in Action 3ed Part1 going to be relevant to Spring 3.2? I also saw the MEAP Spring in Action at http://www.manning.com/walls5/ with the hard copy coming out around January 2014.

[Jayesh A Lalwani]

If you understand the basics, it won't take time to learn the new things, espescially in Spring Core. Spring core hasn't changed too much after they added support for Java annotations. I have a second edition on my desk and third edition online. I usaully end up using second edition or looking at the spring docs online when I need to find something concrete

Get the latest edition that you can get your hands on

[Naresh Chaurasia]

Michael A Hoffman wrote:

http://www.springsource.org/samples

Nice Link. A lot of spring sample projects.