Deploying to a Standalone Server with Spring Boot

Ahoy, mateys! So, you’ve finally built your Spring Boot application, and now it’s time to deploy it to a standalone server. But wait! Before we hoist the sails and set off on our voyage, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page about what it means to deploy a Spring Boot application to a standalone server.

Overview of Deploying Spring Boot Applications to a Standalone Server

When we say “standalone server,” we’re talking about a server that is not part of a larger system, like a cluster or cloud service. Deploying to a standalone server means packaging the application into an executable JAR file and running it directly on the server.

One of the great things about Spring Boot is that it makes it easy to package your application for deployment. The application is packaged into an executable JAR file that includes all the dependencies and a Tomcat server, which means you don’t need to install any additional software on the server to run your application.

To deploy the application, all you need to do is transfer the JAR file to the server and execute it using the java -jar command. The application will start up and be accessible via the server’s IP address and the port that you’ve configured.

But before we start celebrating our successful deployment, let’s take a look at how to package the application for deployment, which is an essential step in the process.

Stay tuned for the next section, where we’ll cover how to package your Spring Boot application for deployment to a standalone server. Keep your eye on the horizon, and we’ll reach our destination in no time!

How to Package the Application for Deployment

To package your Spring Boot application for deployment, you’ll need to create an executable JAR file. This JAR file will contain your application code, all the necessary dependencies, and a Tomcat server.

To create an executable JAR file, you can use either your IDE or a build tool like Maven or Gradle. Most build tools have plugins that allow you to create executable JAR files with a single command.

For example, with Maven, you can use the spring-boot-maven-plugin to create an executable JAR file. Here’s an example of what your pom.xml file might look like:

<build>
    <plugins>
        <plugin>
            <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
            <artifactId>spring-boot-maven-plugin</artifactId>
        </plugin>
    </plugins>
</build>

Once you’ve added the plugin to your pom.xml file, you can run the mvn package command to create an executable JAR file.

If you’re using Gradle, you can use the org.springframework.boot plugin to create an executable JAR file. Here’s an example of what your build.gradle file might look like:

plugins {
    id 'org.springframework.boot' version '2.5.0'
}

jar {
    enabled = true
    archiveFileName = "my-application.jar"
}

Once you’ve added the plugin to your build.gradle file, you can run the gradle bootJar command to create an executable JAR file.

Conclusion

Deploying your Spring Boot application to a standalone server is a great option if you want to run your application independently of any larger system. With Spring Boot, packaging your application for deployment is easy, and creating an executable JAR file means you don’t need to install any additional software on the server to run your application.

We hope this article has been helpful in guiding you through the process of deploying your Spring Boot application to a standalone server. Keep exploring and stay adventurous!