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Spring Framework VS Payara Server

Compare Spring Framework VS Payara Server and see what are their differences

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Spring Framework logo Spring Framework

The Spring Framework provides a comprehensive programming and configuration model for modern Java-based enterprise applications - on any kind of deployment platform.

Payara Server logo Payara Server

Payara Server is a fully supported, developer-friendly, open source application server. Innovative, cloud-native, optimized for production deployments. Jakarta EE & MicroProfile compatible.
  • Spring Framework Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-18
  • Payara Server Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-11-22

Payara Server is an open source, cloud-native middleware platform supporting reliable and secure deployments of Java EE (Jakarta EE) applications on premise, in the cloud or hybrid environments. Originally derived from GlassFish and used as a drop in replacement.

Monthly releases, bug fixes and a 10-year support lifecycle optimizes Payara Server for production deployments. Payara Server is aggressively compatible with common ecosystem components and ensures future compliance with Jakarta EE.

Payara Server is built and supported by a team of DevOps engineers dedicated to continued development and maintenance of the open source software, and committed to collaboration with the community to ensure Payara Server is the best option for production Java EE applications.

Spring Framework features and specs

  • Comprehensive Ecosystem
    Spring Framework provides a vast array of tools and modules which address various aspects of application development such as security, data access, and messaging. This helps in building robust enterprise applications.
  • Inversion of Control (IoC) Container
    Spring's IoC container promotes loose coupling by managing object lifecycles and dependencies, making the code more modular and testable.
  • Aspect-Oriented Programming (AOP)
    Spring's AOP module allows for separating cross-cutting concerns like logging, transaction management, and security, making the code cleaner and more maintainable.
  • Spring Boot
    Spring Boot streamlines the setup and development of new Spring applications with built-in configurations and convention over configuration, reducing boilerplate code and speeding up development time.
  • Large Community and Support
    Spring has a large and active community, extensive documentation, and a wide selection of online resources which make it easier to find support and solutions to common problems.
  • Integration Capabilities
    Spring Framework offers seamless integration with various other technologies and frameworks, including Hibernate for ORM, Apache Kafka for messaging, and more.

Possible disadvantages of Spring Framework

  • Complexity
    Spring Framework can be complex and have a steep learning curve, especially for newcomers who are not familiar with its extensive set of features and configurations.
  • Configuration Overhead
    Although Spring Boot reduces the configuration burden, traditional Spring applications may still require extensive XML or annotation-based configurations, which can be cumbersome.
  • Performance Overhead
    The flexibility and the modular nature of Spring can introduce some performance overhead compared to more lightweight solutions, which could be a concern in highly performance-sensitive applications.
  • Version Incompatibility
    Upgrading between different versions of the Spring Framework and its associated projects can sometimes lead to compatibility issues and necessitate significant code changes.
  • Dependency Management
    Managing dependencies in a large Spring application can become complicated, particularly when dealing with multiple modules and third-party libraries, potentially leading to dependency conflicts.

Payara Server features and specs

  • Open Source
    Payara Server is open source, which means it's free to use and has a community of developers contributing to its development and improvements.
  • Jakarta EE Support
    It supports Jakarta EE, offering developers access to a wide range of enterprise features and a robust platform for building scalable applications.
  • Payara Micro
    Payara Server offers Payara Micro, a lightweight version designed specifically for microservices architectures, making it agile and easily deployable in cloud environments.
  • Commercial Support
    For organizations requiring professional support, Payara Services Ltd offers a range of commercial support options, including 24/7 support and monitoring.
  • Cloud-Ready
    Payara Server is designed to be ready for cloud deployment, offering robust support for Docker, Kubernetes, and other cloud-native tools.

Possible disadvantages of Payara Server

  • Learning Curve
    For new users, there might be a steep learning curve in understanding Jakarta EE specifications and how Payara Server implements these functionalities.
  • Performance Overhead
    It can have higher overhead compared to more lightweight, specialized solutions, especially in cases where full Jakarta EE stack is not required.
  • Limited Niche Community
    While it is actively developed and supported, the community is smaller compared to other enterprise servers like WildFly or Apache Tomcat, potentially leading to fewer resources and community-driven extensions.
  • Version Compatibility
    Some users may face challenges with compatibility when migrating from other application servers, requiring code adjustments to comply with Payara Server's configurations.
  • High Support Costs
    While there's a free open-source version, the costs for commercial support can be high, which might be a consideration for smaller businesses.

Analysis of Spring Framework

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Spring Framework is generally considered a good framework with robust features, strong community support, and extensive documentation, making it a reliable choice for Java developers working on complex, enterprise-level applications.

Why this product is good

  • Features
    Spring provides a wide range of features including dependency injection, aspect-oriented programming, transaction management, and integration with various tools and technologies.
  • Community
    Spring has a large and active community, which contributes to a wealth of resources, documentation, and third-party extensions.
  • Popularity
    Spring Framework is one of the most popular frameworks for Java development, widely used in building enterprise applications.
  • Versatility
    It offers a comprehensive programming and configuration model for modern Java-based enterprise applications, on any kind of deployment platform.

Recommended for

  • Developers building large-scale, enterprise-grade applications.
  • Teams looking for a mature and well-supported framework with a large ecosystem.
  • Projects that require integration with popular Java technologies and tools.
  • Developers focusing on microservices architecture, as Spring Boot simplifies the development of microservices.

Spring Framework videos

What is the Spring framework really all about?

More videos:

  • Tutorial - Spring Framework Tutorial | Full Course

Payara Server videos

Payara Server Deployment Group on Docker

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to Deploy an Application to Payara Server

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Spring Framework and Payara Server)
Developer Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Web And Application Servers
Web Frameworks
100 100%
0% 0
Application Server
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Spring Framework and Payara Server

Spring Framework Reviews

Top 9 best Frameworks for web development
Spring offers a wide range of frameworks, such as an MVC framework, a data access framework and a transaction management framework. With its focus on scalability and security, Spring is an excellent choice.
Source: www.kiwop.com
17 Popular Java Frameworks for 2023: Pros, cons, and more
Therefore, the configuration, setup, build, and deployment processes all require multiple steps you might not want to deal with, especially if you’re working on a smaller project. Spring Boot (a micro framework that runs on top of the Spring Framework) is a solution for this problem, as it allows you to set up your Spring application faster, with much less configuration.
Source: raygun.com
Top 10 Phoenix Framework Alternatives
Spring Framework is an open-source app framework and inversion of control container for the Java platform, providing the infrastructure required to develop Java and web apps on top of the Java EE platform.
10 Best Java Frameworks You Should Know
Spring Framework is one of the most extensively used, top-notch, lightweight software application frameworks built for software design, development, and deployment in Java.

Payara Server Reviews

4 Open Source Application Servers (Comparison and Review)
The Payara Server was derived from GlassFish. It offers 24/7 production and developer support. This server is optimized for production and is secure by default. Payara has implemented its own enhancements and fixes, and has no association with Oracle. Plans are in place to address advanced database capabilities, enhanced diagnostics and more.
Source: shadow-soft.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Spring Framework seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 13 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Spring Framework mentions (13)

  • March 2025 Java Key Updates in Boot, Security, and More
    The release of Spring Framework 6.2.5 includes:. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Getting Started with Spring Boot 3 for .NET Developers
    Spring Framework 6: https://spring.io/projects/spring-framework. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Want to Get Better at Java? Go Old School.
    We had to write our own frameworks (uphill, both ways) but most current frameworks will have similar documentation pages as well. Both Apache and Spring are especially good at that. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • Best Frameworks For Web Development
    Framework link: https://spring.io/projects/spring-framework Github Link: https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework. - Source: dev.to / almost 3 years ago
  • What to you do now?
    A common used Java framework is Spring framework (ie https://spring.io/projects/spring-framework and short tutorials at https://www.baeldung.com/spring-intro). Source: almost 3 years ago
View more

Payara Server mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Payara Server yet. Tracking of Payara Server recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Spring Framework and Payara Server, you can also consider the following products

Django - The Web framework for perfectionists with deadlines

Apache Tomcat - An open source software implementation of the Java Servlet and JavaServer Pages technologies

Grails - An Open Source, full stack, web application framework for the JVM

JBoss - JBoss is Red Hats Java EE 5-compliant (soon Java EE 6-compliant) application server.

Laravel - A PHP Framework For Web Artisans

Wildfly - WildFly is a flexible, lightweight application server.