I'm currently working on a back-end using Spring Boot and I'm curious about the front-end side. Do developers typically create API endpoints and connect them to a front-end framework like Angular or React? Or do they sometimes keep everything in Java, using template engines for the HTML along with the back-end? I'd love to hear what setups others are using!
5 Answers
For some projects, I just stick with JSPs. They might feel old, but they still get the job done without introducing too much complexity. Sometimes simpler is better!
My setup is Java with Spring Boot for the back-end and React for the front-end. I've found that using something like Tanstack Query for data fetching makes it smoother. It's been a solid choice for performance and scalability!
It really depends on what you're building. For complex applications that require dynamic UIs, using frameworks like Angular, React, or Vue.js with JSON APIs is common. But if you're looking for something simpler, templating engines like JTE or Thymeleaf can work well, paired with tools like HTMX for some interactivity. Sometimes people get caught up in using reactive libraries even when they might not need all that complexity!
Yeah, don't forget about vanilla JavaScript or Alpine.js for getting basic functionality without all the overhead of those big frameworks!
Don't overlook Thymeleaf, especially for smaller applications. It's super easy to use and integrates nicely with the back-end. Add a little HTMX for interactivity and you're good to go!
I've been checking out Svelte lately, and it seems really promising. Less boilerplate code compared to React and Vue, and a real pleasure to work with!
Yeah, Svelte does look great! Just wish it had more plugins and libraries available.
Nice! React really simplifies things once you get used to it. I'm a fan of the component-driven approach.