Hacking with Spring Boot 2.4: Classic Edition - Practical Java Guide

In this review of Hacking with Spring Boot 2.4: Classic Edition the reviewer finds a focused, practical guide for experienced Java developers and teams migrating projects to Spring Boot 2.4. The single biggest reason to buy is its hands-on coverage of recent Spring Boot improvements and operational topics that matter in production. Written by a Spring contributor, the book emphasizes real-world concerns such as developer tooling, testing support, Docker container baking and GraalVM readiness, making it a useful reference rather than a beginner's tutorial.

Key Features

• Modern Spring coverage: Explains the new Spring Boot 2.4 features and how they affect application configuration and startup for more predictable behavior.
• Web and data focus: Shows practical approaches to building web applications and data access layers so apps can handle typical enterprise patterns.
• Developer tools and testing: Covers the tooling and test support that speed feedback loops and reduce friction during development.
• Operational topics: Provides guidance on operational features and deployment practices that help applications run reliably in production.
• Container and native readiness: Includes instructions for Docker container baking and notes on GraalVM production support to prepare apps for modern deployment targets.
• Messaging and security: Addresses messaging integrations and security considerations so applications can meet common integration and compliance needs.

Who It's For

The book is best for professional Java developers, architects, and DevOps engineers who already know core Spring concepts and want to adopt Spring Boot 2.4 features across web, data, and operational concerns. It benefits teams modernizing monoliths or building microservices that must be testable, container-friendly, and ready for production.

Readers who are new to Java or Spring may find this edition too focused on practical migration and operational topics rather than introductory pedagogy; beginners should pair it with a fundamentals book before tackling this material.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Authoritative perspective from a Spring team committer, which lends credibility to the guidance.
• Practical, hands-on focus on developer tools, testing, and operational best practices for production-ready apps.
• Coverage of Docker container baking and GraalVM helps readers target modern deployment strategies.
• Clear attention to web, data, messaging and security makes it a useful single-reference for several concerns.

Cons

• Not a beginner's primer; assumes prior Spring and Java experience and may skip basic explanations.

Specifications

Title	Hacking with Spring Boot 2.4: Classic Edition
Author	Greg L. Turnquist
Primary focus	Spring Boot 2.4 features and practical application development
Key topics	Web, Data, Developer tools, Testing, Operations, Docker, GraalVM, Messaging, Security
Intended audience	Experienced Java developers and teams
Approach	Hands-on, practical examples and guidance

Our Verdict

Hacking with Spring Boot 2.4: Classic Edition is a solid, practical reference for developers and teams upgrading to or working with Spring Boot 2.4. Its coverage of developer tooling, testing, operational features, and container/native deployment makes it good value for experienced Java professionals who need actionable guidance rather than introductory theory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this book suitable for beginners?
It assumes familiarity with Java and Spring; beginners should consult an introductory Spring book first.

Does it cover container deployment?
Yes, it includes material on Docker container baking and preparing applications for containerized environments.

Does the author have Spring expertise?
Yes, Greg L. Turnquist works on the Spring team and is a committer on several Spring projects, which informs the book's perspective.