Deploying Fullstack Java Applications with Spring Boot and Docker

In today’s software landscape, fullstack applications often require a smooth, scalable deployment process. Java developers building with Spring Boot can leverage Docker to containerize and deploy both backend and frontend components efficiently. Docker provides an isolated environment that ensures consistency across development, testing, and production. In this blog, we'll explore how to deploy a fullstack Java application using Spring Boot for the backend and Docker to containerize and run the entire stack.


Why Use Docker for Fullstack Deployment?

Docker simplifies deployment by allowing you to package an application and its dependencies into a container. For fullstack Java apps, this means:

Environment consistency between dev, test, and production

Simplified dependency management

Easy scaling and deployment using orchestration tools like Docker Compose or Kubernetes


Project Structure

Let’s assume you have a fullstack application structured like this:

bash

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/project-root

├── backend/         # Spring Boot app

│   ├── src/

│   └── Dockerfile

├── frontend/        # React or Angular app

│   ├── src/

│   └── Dockerfile

└── docker-compose.yml

Step 1: Dockerize the Spring Boot Backend

Create a Dockerfile in your backend directory:


Dockerfile

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# Use OpenJDK as base image

FROM openjdk:17-jdk-slim

ARG JAR_FILE=target/*.jar

COPY ${JAR_FILE} app.jar

ENTRYPOINT ["java", "-jar", "/app.jar"]

Make sure your Spring Boot app is built using:


bash

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cd backend

./mvnw clean package

This produces a JAR file in the target directory that Docker will use.


Step 2: Dockerize the Frontend (React or Angular)

In your frontend directory, create a Dockerfile:


Dockerfile

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# Use Node.js to build the app

FROM node:18 as build

WORKDIR /app

COPY . .

RUN npm install && npm run build


# Serve the app using Nginx

FROM nginx:alpine

COPY --from=build /app/build /usr/share/nginx/html

Make sure to build your frontend before running Docker:


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cd frontend

npm install

npm run build


Step 3: Create Docker Compose File

Use docker-compose.yml to define and run both containers together:


yaml

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version: '3.8'

services:

  backend:

    build: ./backend

    ports:

      - "8080:8080"

    networks:

      - app-network


  frontend:

    build: ./frontend

    ports:

      - "3000:80"

    networks:

      - app-network


networks:

  app-network:

    driver: bridge

This configuration builds and runs both containers on the same network, allowing them to communicate.


Step 4: Run Your Fullstack App

From the project root:


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docker-compose up --build

You can now access the frontend at http://localhost:3000 and the backend API at http://localhost:8080.


Deployment Tips

  • Use environment variables for configuration (e.g., database URLs, API keys).
  • Store secrets securely with Docker secrets or an external vault.
  • Use multi-stage builds to reduce image sizes.
  • Deploy containers to cloud services (e.g., AWS ECS, Azure Container Apps, Google Cloud Run).


Conclusion

Docker and Spring Boot are a powerful combination for deploying fullstack Java applications. With Docker, you eliminate "it works on my machine" issues and streamline your deployment pipeline. Whether you’re building enterprise-grade systems or personal projects, containerizing your fullstack app helps you deliver reliable and portable software faster.

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Read more : Fullstack Java: Building Scalable Applications with Microservices

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