Java Companion

Mar 17, 2026 · Backend Development

Three Hot‑Reload Methods for Spring Boot in IDEA – Why JRebel Is the Best

When Spring Boot projects grow, restart times can reach minutes, slowing development, so the article compares three hot‑reload approaches—spring‑boot‑devtools, IDEA’s built‑in HowSwap, and the JRebel plugin—detailing their setup, limitations, and why JRebel is the most effective.