> AI agents: For documentation discovery and navigation, see [llms.txt](/llms.txt).

# Spring Boot in Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code is an ideal lightweight development environment for Spring Boot application developers and there are several useful VS Code extensions including:

* [Spring Boot Tools](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=vmware.vscode-spring-boot)
* [Spring Initializr](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=vscjava.vscode-spring-initializr)
* [Spring Boot Dashboard](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=vscjava.vscode-spring-boot-dashboard)

We recommend installing the [Spring Boot Extension Pack](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=vmware.vscode-boot-dev-pack) that includes all of the extensions above.

If you run into any issues when using the features below, you can contact us by [opening an issue](https://github.com/microsoft/vscode-java-pack/issues).

## Prerequisites

To develop a Spring Boot application in Visual Studio Code, you need to install the following:

* [Java Development Kit (JDK)](https://www.microsoft.com/openjdk)
* [Extension Pack for Java](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=vscjava.vscode-java-pack)
* [Spring Boot Extension Pack](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=vmware.vscode-boot-dev-pack)

<a class="install-extension-btn" href="vscode:extension/vscjava.vscode-java-pack">Install the Extension Pack for Java</a>

<a class="install-extension-btn" href="vscode:extension/vmware.vscode-boot-dev-pack">Install the Spring Boot Extension Pack</a>

>**Note**: More information about how to get started can be found at [Getting Started with Java](/docs/java/java-tutorial.md) tutorial.

To help get you started with Java Spring Boot development, you can use the [Java Spring profile template](/docs/configure/profiles.md#java-spring-profile-template) that includes useful extensions, settings, and Java Spring Boot code snippets.

## Create the project

The [Spring Initializr](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=vscjava.vscode-spring-initializr) extension allows you to search for dependencies and generate new Spring Boot projects.

To install, launch VS Code and from the Extensions view (`kb(workbench.view.extensions)`), search for `vscode-spring-initializr`.

Once you have the extension installed, open the **Command Palette** (`kb(workbench.action.showCommands)`) and type `Spring Initializr` to start generating a Maven or Gradle project and then follow the wizard.

<video src="images/java-spring-boot/spring-initializr.mp4" autoplay loop muted playsinline controls video="Create the project">
</video>

## Edit the project

The [Spring Initializr](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=vscjava.vscode-spring-initializr) extension allows you to add dependencies after generating a new Spring Boot project.

Navigate to your `pom.xml` file and right-click to select **Add starters...**. A dropdown will show the dependencies you already have beginning with a `√` . You can search for other dependencies you want to add to your project. Or you can click on the existing dependencies to remove them.

<video src="images/java-spring-boot/spring-initializr-add-starters.mp4" autoplay loop muted playsinline controls title="Edit the project">
</video>

## Develop the application

The [Spring Boot Tools](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=vmware.vscode-spring-boot) extension includes rich language support for working with Spring Boot `application.properties`, `application.yml`, and `.java` files.

The extension supports the following features:

* Quickly navigate to a Spring element in your workspace
* Smart code completion for Spring specific components
* Quick access to running Spring apps
* Live application information
* Code templates

Similar code completion and validation features are also available for `.properties` and `.yml` files.

To learn how to use these features, you can visit this [detailed usage guide](https://github.com/spring-projects/sts4/tree/main/vscode-extensions/vscode-spring-boot#usage).

Below is an example showing live application information.

<video src="images/java-spring-boot/spring-live-info.mp4" autoplay loop muted playsinline controls title="Live application information and metrics">
</video>

## Run the application

In addition to using `kb(workbench.action.debug.start)` to run your application, there's the [Spring Boot Dashboard](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=vscjava.vscode-spring-boot-dashboard) extension, which lets you view and manage all available Spring Boot projects in your workspace as well as quickly start, stop, or debug your project.

<video src="images/java-spring-boot/spring-dashboard.mp4" autoplay loop muted playsinline controls title="Run the Spring Boot application from Spring Boot dashboard">
</video>

## Next steps

* [Java Spring profile template](/docs/configure/profiles.md#java-spring-profile-template) - Create a new [profile](/docs/configure/profiles) with a curated set of extensions, settings, and snippets.
* To deploy your web app, see [Java Web Apps with VS Code](/docs/java/java-webapp.md).
* To containerize a web app and deploy as a Docker container, check out [Docker in VS Code](/docs/containers/overview.md).
* To learn more about Java debugging features, see [Running and debugging Java](/docs/java/java-debugging.md).