Spring Boot REST API — The Big Picture

A small Item REST API backed by MySQL — Create, Read, Update, Delete items over HTTP. Spring Boot generates most of it; you write very little Java by hand.

The four pieces

Keep this map in your head — a Spring Boot project is just these four files:

• application.properties — tells the app how to connect to MySQL.
• Item.java (Entity) — a Java class that mirrors one row of the table.
• ItemRepository.java (Repository) — gives you ready-made save / find / delete methods for free.
• ItemController.java (Controller) — the URLs clients call.

The notes use com.example.myapp as the base package. Swap it for whatever you name your own project.

The build order

1. spring-boot-create-project — generate the project with the 4 dependencies.
2. spring-boot-mysql-setup — create the DB, restore the backup, connect.
3. spring-boot-entity — the Item entity class.
4. spring-boot-repository-controller — the repository + CRUD controller.
5. spring-boot-run-and-test — run, test, and the wrap-up checklist.