Simplifying Spring Boot Development with React and MongoDB

In this article I will be covering the tedious task of getting started with a full stack development. Using React as frontend and Spring boot as backend. We will use MongoDB as a NoSQL database.

Useful Reminder

1. Documentation Documentation Documentation

Make documentation your best friend, it might seem scary but trust the people that built the language.

Spring boot has very to the point documentation on whatever you need, i’ve listed a few helpful one.

Getting Started | Accessing Data with MongoDB

Getting Started | React.js and Spring Data REST

2. Stick to just one

It may seem hard to keep it simple but trust me don’t over do it with YouTube videos as they tend to have confusing syntax and don’t usually explain the purpose of using certain code, which will repeat itself more times than once leaving you frustrated and exhausted.

you me us :)

A very helpful simple to the point link — https://www.bezkoder.com/react-spring-boot-mongodb/

3. Be Ready with the Pre-requisites

Depending on which IDE or code editor you use, there’s different modes of setting up.

Be sure to watch a video or two covering the setup process.

4. NOT A TUTORIAL :(

The following below is a mere guide to help with creating a full stack project. There are many approaches to get a fully functioning system.

I personally have used the following order of Backend setup -> Backend Implementation -> Frontend Set up -> Frontend Implementation -> Integrate

Familiarity with Stack

What is React JS?

React is used to build user interfaces (UI) on the front end.

React is not a framework (unlike Angular, which is more opinionated).

React is an open-source project created by Facebook.

What is Spring Boot?

Spring Boot is an opinionated framework that helps developers build Spring-based applications quickly and easily. The main goal of Spring Boot is to quickly create Spring-based applications without requiring developers to write the same boilerplate configuration again and again.

What is MongoDB?

MongoDB is a document database with the scalability and flexibility that you want with the querying and indexing that you need.

Spring Boot, React and MongoDB Architecture

Streamlining the Setup

Setting up the development environment is the first step towards a simplified development process. To get started, ensure that you have the necessary tools installed on your system: Java Development Kit (JDK 17 or above, Apache Maven, Apache Tomcat), Node.js, and MongoDB. Make sure to have the spring boot extension pack installed as well.

Once the prerequisites are met, follow these steps:

1. Create a new Spring Boot project using Spring Initializr (Backend):

• Choose the required dependencies, such as Spring Web, Spring Data MongoDB, and any other necessary dependencies for your project.
• Generate the project and import it into your preferred IDE.

2. Set up a React application using Create React App(Frontend):

• Open your terminal and navigate to the desired directory.
• Run the command: npx create-react-app my-app (replace "my-app" with your desired project name).
• Navigate into the created directory: cd my-app.

3. Configure the connection to MongoDB(within the backend):

• Ensure to connect MongoDB with your project.
• In your Spring Boot project, configure the MongoDB connection properties in the application.properties file or using Java configuration.

Building RESTful APIs with Spring Boot

Restful API is an architectural style for an application program interface (API) that uses HTTP requests to access and use data. That data can be used to GET, PUT, POST and DELETE data types, which refers to the reading, updating, creating and deleting of operations concerning resources

Now you might be asking but why REST API?

Data is not tied to resources or methods, so REST can handle multiple types of calls, return different data formats and even change structurally with the correct implementation of hypermedia

Spring Boot simplifies the process of building RESTful APIs. Follow these steps to create REST endpoints:

1. Create a new Java class and annotate it with @RestController:

• Spring RestController takes care of mapping request data to the defined request handler method. Once response body is generated from the handler method, it converts it to JSON or XML response.
• Define the base URL for the API using the @RequestMapping annotation.

2. Define methods within the class to handle different HTTP requests:

• Use annotations like @GetMapping, @PostMapping, @PutMapping, @DeleteMapping, etc., to handle specific HTTP methods.

3. Implement the business logic within each method:

• Use Spring Data MongoDB repository interfaces to interact with the MongoDB database.

model class

model repository

Controller class

Developing Dynamic User Interfaces with React

React provides a powerful framework for building dynamic user interfaces. Follow these steps to integrate React with your Spring Boot project:

1. In your React project, create functional or class components:

• Use the useState and useEffect hooks to manage state and perform side effects, respectively.

2. Make HTTP requests to the Spring Boot APIs using libraries like Axios:

• Install Axios: npm install axios.
• Import Axios into your React components and use it to send HTTP requests to the Spring Boot backend.

Data service in frontend

App (integration)

Effortless Data Management with MongoDB

MongoDB offers a flexible and scalable NoSQL database solution. Follow these steps to work with MongoDB in your Spring Boot project:

1. Define MongoDB entity classes:

• Annotate your entity classes with @Document to specify the MongoDB collection they map to.
• Use annotations like @Id, @Field, and @DBRef to define the document structure and relationships.

2. Create repository interfaces by extending Spring Data MongoDB repositories:

• Leverage built-in repository methods or define custom repository methods to perform CRUD operations and complex queries.

Optimizing Workflow and Collaboration

To further simplify the development process, embrace tools and practices that enhance productivity and collaboration. Consider the following:

1. Version Control:

• Utilize Git and platforms like GitHub or GitLab for version control and seamless collaboration with other developers.

Conclusion

Coming to an end, I hope this has simplified the workflow of how SpringBoot can be used with React and MongoDB. It may be seem like the most impossible task in the beginning but when you’ve taken the first steps, everything else just comes naturally.
All the best.