Spring Boot vs Quarkus: Which Java Framework to Choose for Development?

Framework dilemma? Feeling paralyzed about whether to choose Quarkus or Spring Boot for your next project? 

Both frameworks feel right with promised speed and efficiency, making it an overwhelming decision. 

As Java development services providers, we understand the consequences of taking the wrong step. Therefore, we’ll guide you in making the right choice. 

In this blog, we will give you a comprehensive comparison between Quarkus vs Spring Boot to help you choose the best option for your needs. 

Let’s dig in. 

What is Spring Boot?

Spring Boot is an open-source, backend Java framework that you can use for building scalable and robust microservices, web applications and console applications.

This well-established, mature and feature-rich Java framework makes it easy to create stand-alone, production-grade Spring-based applications that you can "simply run."

Moreover, it simplifies dependency management, configuration and bootstrapping, without letting you worry about the boilerplate code. 

Plus, its bundle of libraries and tools makes project startup and management easier, as it follows the convention-over-configuration principle.

Let's examine Spring Boot's features that simplify the development process and enhance efficiency. We’ll also discuss its pros and cons so that you can decide whether it’s a game-changer for your project. 

Top 5 Key Features of Spring Boot

Think of Spring Boot as a toolbox filled with handy tools. It helps you save time and effort as you don't have to write the same code repeatedly. 

In addition to enhancing user experience, let's explore Spring Boot's standout features and understand why it is an invaluable tool for many developers.

Auto-Configuration

Spring Boot lets you automatically configure your application based on your project dependencies. This means less boilerplate code, faster setup and development time and less manual configurations.

Spring Boot allows you to focus on building features rather than engaging you with tedious configurations. 

Stand-alone Applications

You can create self-contained, standalone applications using Spring Boot. This makes the applications run independently without an external application server.

It packages the applications as a jar file with an embedded server, like 

• Tomcat,

•  Jetty

• Undertow

This feature of Spring Boot allows you for a seamless deployment in various environments.

Supports Microservices

Another amazing feature of Spring Boots is that it supports microservices architecture. It simplifies building and deploying microservices architectures by offering features such as

• Cloud configurations

• Service registrations, and

• Discovery (via Spring Cloud)

You can build scalable and efficient applications using Spring Boot that responds quickly to user demands.

Extensive Plug-in Support

With its wide range of plugins and extensions, you can easily integrate popular libraries and frameworks. This feature makes it highly adaptable to various project requirements, enhancing functionality and accelerating the implementation of new features.

Production Ready Features

You get out-of-the-box production-ready features with Spring Boot, such as application monitoring, health checks, configuration management, and more.

This feature allows you to monitor and manage applications in a production environment. These built-in features also ensure that your applications are ready for deployment in real-world scenarios. 

Therefore, if you are looking for a mature, flexible and comprehensive ecosystem for your projects, Spring Boot is an excellent choice.

Spring Boot: Advantages and Disadvantages

Still looking to settle the debate of Spring vs Quarkus? Both frameworks have unique advantages and disadvantages. Let's explore what Spring Boot offers and how it can impact your project's success or failure.

Spring Boot Advantages:

• Development in Spring Boot is easy and faster. 

• Widely used for building enterprise-level applications.

• It is beginner-friendly.

• Has a strong community support who enjoys sharing their creations and insights.

• Make applications run more efficiently due to JVM (Java Virtual Machine).

• With its monolithic architecture, you can build complex and large-scale applications. 

• Offers consistency and comprehensive control. 

• It eliminates or decreases the boiler code. 

• Bootstrapping helps you save space on your devices. 

• XML setup is an option for developers 

• Offers several tools and libraries 

Spring Boot Disadvantages:

• It may take more time to start an application with Spring Boot when compared to other frameworks. 

• Converting a legacy Spring project is complex and time-consuming. 

• It creates many interdependencies, making it difficult to control. 

Developments in Spring Boots can often be quicker and more affordable. However, complexities can occur, which require extra resources for effective management. 

What is Quarkus?

Quarkus is an open-source Java framework specially created for Java development services company to help them create modern and cloud-native applications. 

Quarkus was developed by Red Hat and supports standard Java libraries and frameworks. This means it also supports traditional architecture, making you put in less extra effort. 

With outstanding speed and faster startup times, Quarkus leverages ahead-of-time (AOT) compilation, GraalVM, and native image generation.

The initial focus of Quarkus it to work with containers, especially Kubernetes. Plus, unlike Spring, its initial aim was not to develop its own framework. Rather, they worked to maximize integration and effectively support other frameworks and services.

Quarkus offers:

• Fast startup times,

• Minimal memory utilization and

• Remarkable Performance

This relatively new framework is valued by many developers and companies. What makes it unique? Read ahead to know more. We’ll also give a quick overview of its pros and cons to give you a complete picture. 

Top 5 Key Features of Quarkus 

Besides supporting live coding, it empowers you to build modern and scalable applications simplifying deployments. What more? 

Check out the top five features that make it a game-changer in the Java community.

1. Kubernetes Native Framework

Quarkus is designed to seamlessly integrate with Kubernetes. It streamlines creating and deploying microservices on a Kubernetes cluster, making it an excellent choice for deploying cloud-native applications.

It streamlines container management and orchestration and includes features of service discovery, scaling, and monitoring. You can also well-integrate Quarkus with Red Hat Openshift.

2. Faster Startup Time

The biggest strength that you can get with Quarkus is its lightning-fast startup time. Designed to start applications in milliseconds, it is ideal for serverless and microservices architecture where quick scaling and responsiveness are crucial. Thus you can reduce your work needed at runtime, as it is achieved through build-time processing.

3. Live Coding 

You can see changes in real-time without even starting your application with Quarkus, as it supports love coding.

Your development process speed drastically increases, making it easier for you to test and refine code on the fly.

You can make changes to your codes and speed up your development cycle significantly. This is possible as Quarkus automatically reloads the application and reflects changes instantly without needing a full restart. 

4. Performance Optimization

Another standout feature is Quarkus' ability to compile applications into native executables using GraalVM. Thus making it ideal for:

• Resource-constrained environments and

• High-performing applications

Native compilation leads to instant startup times, thus reducing memory usage, making it perfect for cloud-native and serverless applications. 

5. Cloud-Native Friendly

Quarkus offers easy integration with cloud services and features that simplify deployment and scalability. With features including:

• Small and optimized Docker images

• Native builds

• Cloud-specific integration

This cloud-centric design ensures that your applications are efficient, scalable and resilient. 

Quarkus stands out with its modern, cloud-native and scalable architecture. With seamless Kubernetes integration, it will give your projects the speed and agility they need. 

Quarkus: Advantages and Disadvantages

Quarkus vs Spring? Are you still in a dilemma? After having read the advantages and disadvantages of Spring Boot, let’s have a look at the pros and cons of Quarkus.

Quarkus Advantages:

• It offers both reactive and imperative programming capabilities. 

• Relies on AOT compilation. 

• It can run faster using less resources. 

• For native images, it require lower space. 

• It focuses on supporting third-party integration. 

• Developers can avoid redundant processes in configuration and deployment. 

• Helps create optimized applications using Graal or Substrate VM. 

Quarkus Disadvantages:

• Has limited features compared to Spring Boot.

• It is still maturing, but it could lead to evolving best practices.

• Initial installations of Graal VM can be complex and challenging for some developers.

• A less preferred choice by specialized developers.

Quarkus has an actively growing support from leading tech companies. However, development in Quarkus can be expensive and slow when compared to Spring Boot. 

Which framework is best suited for your project? Decide by carefully assessing each most popular backend framework's offerings and how they align with your objectives.

A Side-by-Side Comparison: Spring Boot vs Quarkus

Delivering solid and reliable solutions to developers, Spring Boot is a trusted framework in Java. On the other hand, Quarkus is slowly gaining traction with its innovative features, such as AOT compilations and reactive programming, making it again a compelling choice. 

If you are still a bit lost with the details, when comparing Spring Boot and Quarkus, we understand your confusion. However, immediately declaring a winner would not be fair for either one between Spring Boot vs Quarkus. 

So, while you take your time to weigh both of them, here is a tabular comparison of the two. 

Both of these frameworks address different needs, and neither will replace the other anytime soon. So, take your time to evaluate both benefits and practical metrics before you make a choice between Spring Boot and Quarkus. 

Spring Boot vs Quarkus: Real-World Use Cases

Spring Boot is commonly used and favored in enterprise applications. Offering a robust ecosystem for large-scale systems, companies such as:

• Netflix 

In 2018, Netflix transitioned to Spring Boot as its core Java framework. Spring provides great experiences for data access, complex security management integration with cloud providers and more. 

• Amazon

Amazon uses Spring Boot as a backend framework to deploy applications in AWS (Amazon Web Services.)

Spring Boots’ stability also makes it an ideal choice for

• Banking

• E-commerce, and

• Other critical industries

Where performance and security are paramount, due to its reliability and mature architecture.

Quarkus, on the other hand, is designed to excel in cloud-native and modern applications. Well-suited for microservices and serverless environments, organizations such as

• Red Hat

• Vodafone

Leverage Quarkus for microservices due to its fast startup times and low memory usage. 

Quarkus and Spring Boot Alternatives

If Quarkus or Spring Boot doesn’t address your needs, we have a few Quarkus and Spring framework alternatives. 

• Knative: An open-source platform to develop serverless applications in Kubernetes.

• Dropwizard: Framework for quickly bootstrapping Java REST services, backed by JetBrains for excellent IDE support.

• Micronaut: A young but promising Java framework. It supports Java, Kotlin and Groovy and focuses on performance and resource efficiency. 

Still unsure which is the best choice for you? Contact our experts and find the one that best fits your development needs. 

Which One Should You Choose?

No matter what you choose between Quarkus vs Spring, both frameworks will let you achieve your goals, unless it's the right one. Between Spring vs. Quarkus, hinge on the one that prioritizes your technical needs and provides a comprehensive solution.

As one of the best Java development companies, we specialize in crafting solutions that are tailored to your unique project needs. 

Ready to boost your Java solutions? Contact us today for your next development project.