What is Spring?
The Spring Framework is an open-source application framework providing comprehensive infrastructure support for developing enterprise-level Java applications.
Spring vs Java EE
Prior to Spring, developers heavily relied on Java EE (Enterprise Edition) primarily utilizing Enterprise JavaBeans (EJBs) to build large-scale applications.
Evolution and Release Timeline
Since its inception, Spring has fundamentally shifted paradigms multiple times to adapt to modern engineering requirements.
Spring Projects Ecosystem
"Spring" technically refers specifically to the core IoC container. However, the ecosystem has exploded into multiple distinct sub-projects catering to specific architectural needs.