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ARCHITECTURE, BACKEND, BEST PRACTICES

Solid Principles in Spring Boot Applications

Posted by Chris KOUAKAM On March 4, 2024

Table of Contents

Introduction
In the realm of software engineering, the SOLID principles stand as pivotal design guidelines. They notably enhance software development
practices. Particularly, Spring Boot, a robust framework in the Java ecosystem, emerges as an ideal platform for these principles’ implementation.
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Furthermore, this article aims to explore deeply the essence of SOLID principles, specifically within the Spring Boot context. Consequently, it
provides valuable insights and practical examples. These serve to guide Java developers in creating more robust and maintainable applications.

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The SOLID Principles

In the software development industry, crafting robust and maintainable code is paramount. One methodology that stands as a cornerstone for
achieving this goal is the adoption of SOLID Principles. Understanding SOLID Principles can elevate your software design skills to the next level.

The SOLID Principles are made of five concepts, which are:

1. Single Responsibility
2. Open-Closed
3. Liskov Substitution
4. Interface Segregation
5. Dependency Inversion

In the following sections, we’ll see how to use these principles with practical examples applied to Spring Boot projects.

SOLID Principles in Spring Boot

Now, having introduced what SOLID principles are, let us transition and focus on their applications to Spring Boot projects.

Single Responsibility Principle (SRP)

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Understanding SRP in Spring Boot

The Single Responsibility Principle (SRP) champions the notion that a class should have a singular reason to change, essentially meaning it ought to
fulfill only one job. In the context of a Spring Boot application, this principle encourages the creation of modular components. Each of these
components is responsible for a distinct functionality. Thus, SRP ensures clarity and focus in each class’s role within the application.

Practical Implementation

Controller Layer: Define controllers with specific responsibilities, such as handling user requests for a particular domain.
Service Layer: Implement service classes to manage business logic, each focusing on a singular aspect of the application’s functionality.
Repository Layer: Use repositories for data access operations, segregating them based on entity or domain.

Code Example
 1 @RestController
2 publicWeclass
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UserController { experience on our website. By browsing this website, you agree to our use of cookies.
3 private final UserService userService;
4 MORE INFO Accept
5 public UserController(UserService userService) {
6 this.userService = userService;
7 }
8
9 @GetMapping("/users")
10 public List<User> getAllUsers() {
11 return userService.findAllUsers();
12 }
13 }
14
15 @Service
16 public class UserService {
17 private final UserRepository userRepository;
18
19 public UserService(UserRepository userRepository) {
20 this.userRepository = userRepository;
21 }
22
23 public List<User> findAllUsers() {
24 return userRepository.findAll();
25 }
26 }
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Scenario: The UserController handles HTTP requests, while the UserService manages user-related business logic, adhering to SRP.

With a clear understanding of SRP under our belt, we now turn our attention to the next principle, the Open/Closed Principle (OCP), and its
significance in Spring Boot.

Open/Closed Principle (OCP)

Integrating OCP in Spring Boot

The Open/Closed Principle crucially asserts that software entities aim to be open for extension yet closed for modification. Within Spring Boot’s
framework, achieving this balance is feasible through the use of interfaces and inheritance. Consequently, this approach allows for the extension of
behaviors without necessitating alterations to the existing code. Therefore, it fosters a development environment where adaptability and stability
coexist.
Practical Application
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Polymorphism: Utilize interfaces and abstract classes to define common behaviors, enabling extension through new implementations.
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Spring’s Dependency Injection: Leverage Spring’s DI mechanism to inject different implementations of interfaces without modifying the client
class.

Code Example

1 public interface DiscountStrategy {

2 double applyDiscount(double price);
3 }
4
5 @Component
6 public class ChristmasDiscount implements DiscountStrategy {
7
8 public double applyDiscount(double price) {
9 return price * 0.9; // 10% discount
10 }
11
12 }
13
14 @Component
15 public class NewYearDiscount implements DiscountStrategy {
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16
17 public double applyDiscount(double price) {
18 return price * 0.85; // 15% discount
19 }
20
21 }

Scenario: New discount strategies can be added without altering the existing code, adhering to OCP.

After exploring how OCP drives extensible and modular design, let’s move to the Liskov Substitution Principle (LSP) and its role in ensuring robust
inheritance in our applications.

Liskov Substitution Principle (LSP)

Applying LSP in Spring Boot

Liskov Substitution Principle (LSP) firmly asserts a key concept: objects of a superclass should be seamlessly replaceable with objects of its
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subclasses. Importantly, this replacement should not compromise the program’s correctness. As a result, LSP enforces a robust inheritance
hierarchy. This principle ensures that subclass objects uphold the contract established
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by their superclass, maintaining program integrity.

Effective Practices

Consistent Method Signatures: Ensure that overridden methods in subclasses align with the expectations set by the superclass.
Behavioral Consistency: Subclasses should not alter the expected behavior, ensuring they can replace their superclass.

Code Example

1 public abstract class Bird {

2
3 public abstract void fly();
4
5 }
6
7 public class Sparrow extends Bird {
8
9 public void fly() {
10 // Implementation for flying
11 }
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12
13 }
14
15 public class Ostrich extends Bird {
16
17 public void fly() {
18 throw new UnsupportedOperationException("Cannot fly");
19 }
20
21 }

Scenario: An Ostrich class incorrectly extends Bird, violating LSP as it cannot fly. This should be refactored to adhere to LSP.

Building on the foundations laid by LSP, we next explore the Interface Segregation Principle (ISP) and its impact on creating clean and targeted
interfaces in Spring Boot.

Interface Segregation Principle (ISP)

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ISP in Spring Boot Applications

The Interface Segregation Principle (ISP) advocates for the creation of small, specific interfaces. This approach contrasts with developing large,
general-purpose ones. By doing so, ISP promotes greater precision and relevance in interface design. It encourages a more targeted and efficient
approach to structuring software components.

Implementation Strategies

Role-specific Interfaces: Design interfaces for specific roles or functionalities rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Decoupling: Use Spring Boot’s flexibility to decouple components, allowing them to depend only on the interfaces they use.

Code Example

1 public interface Printable {

2
3 void print();
4
5 }
6
7 public interface Scannable {
8
9 void scan();
10
11 }
12
13 public class SimplePrinter implements Printable {
14
15 public void print() { /* printing logic */ }
16
17 }
18
19 public class AllInOnePrinter implements Printable, Scannable {
20
21 public void print() { /* printing logic */ }
22
23 public void scan() { /* scanning logic */ }
24
25 }
Scenario: The AllInOnePrinter class implements two separate interfaces, while the SimplePrinter can only print, allowing implementations to
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depend only on the functionalities they require.
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Having seen how ISP encourages specific and focused interfaces, let’s conclude our exploration of SOLID principles with the Dependency Inversion
Principle (DIP) and its pivotal role in decoupling high-level modules from low-level modules.

Dependency Inversion Principle (DIP)

Harnessing DIP in Spring Boot

The Dependency Inversion Principle (DIP) posits a key guideline: high-level modules should not rely on low-level modules. Instead, both should
depend on abstractions. This principle further elaborates that abstractions should not be tied to details. Rather, it’s the details that should rely on
abstractions. Such an approach fosters a more flexible and decoupled architecture in software design.

Application in Spring Boot

Invert Control with Spring IOC: Utilize Spring’s Inversion of Control container to manage dependencies, focusing on abstractions rather than
concrete implementations.
Use of Interfaces: Define service interfaces and inject concrete implementations at runtime, ensuring decoupling and flexibility.

Code Example

1 public interface MessageService {

2
3 void sendMessage(String message);
4
5 }
6
7 @Service
8 public class EmailService implements MessageService {
9
10 public void sendMessage(String message) {
11 // Send email
12 }
13
14 }
15
 16 @RestController
17 publicWeclass
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NotificationController { on our website. By browsing this website, you agree to our use of cookies.
18
19 private final MessageService messageService;
20 MORE INFO Accept
21 public NotificationController(MessageService messageService) {
22 this.messageService = messageService;
23 }
24
25 // Other methods
26
27 }

Scenario: The NotificationController (high-level module) depends on the MessageService interface (absctraction), not on its implementation (low-
level module), aligning with DIP.

Are you wondering about the application of SOLID Principles in other frameworks? We offer a straightforward article on their implementation in
Angular, it’s illustrated in the article titled: Apply SOLID Principles in Angular Projects.

Apply SOLID Principles in Angular Projects

 Imagine you’re developing a feature-rich task management application using Angular. To ensure a robust and
maintainable codebase, let’s see how SOLID Principles can guide your development journey.

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Conclusion
Embracing SOLID principles in Spring Boot significantly enhances both the quality and maintainability of applications. Moreover, it aligns
seamlessly with the best practices in software design. By adopting these principles, developers are empowered to create Java applications that are
not only scalable and efficient but also robust. These applications are well-equipped to adapt to changing requirements with remarkable ease.

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About Chris KOUAKAM

Experienced software engineer dedicated to creating innovative solutions. Passionate about coding excellence and problem-solving,
#SoftwareCraftsmanship. Follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn.
View all posts by Chris KOUAKAM

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