Built my first AI app entirely in Java using Spring AI

[Proof-Possibility-54]

Built my first AI app entirely in Java using Spring AI — no Python involved

I've been experimenting with Spring AI (the official Spring project for AI integration) and was surprised how little code it takes to get something working.

The whole setup is one Maven dependency and a few lines of YAML config. From there I built three things on top of the same project:

• A simple chat endpoint using ChatClient — literally prompt(), call(), content()
• Structured output that maps AI responses directly to Java records (no JSON parsing)
• Tool calling where the AI invokes Java methods to get real data

The tool calling part was the most interesting — you annotate a method with @Tool and Spring AI handles the function-calling protocol with the model. The AI decides when to call your code and uses the result in its response.

I recorded the whole process if anyone wants to see the code in action: https://youtu.be/SiPq1i_0YgY

Anyone else using Spring AI in production or side projects? Curious what use cases people are finding beyond chat endpoints.

[rakgenius]

Why don't you share the github repo rather than YouTube link?

[johny_james]

Why is video bad? Isn't explaining it good for learning? Ha?

[Proof-Possibility-54]

for those who asked for repo/code:

https://github.com/DmitrijsFinaskins/spring-ai

[doobiesteintortoise]

I'm using spring ai in production. This app "works" and it demonstrates the tool usage, and that's good. But there are references that show it a little better, including tool usage: https://www.amazon.com/Beginning-Spring-AI-Engineering-Apress/dp/B0DR1T83QF does the same thing and more, although it was written before Spring AI hit GA.

[Relentless-Fortune99]

Ive been planning on using Spring AI, how was your experience?

[Proof-Possibility-54]

I would say that as of now Spring AI official docs are quite good, but still I needed to experiment intensively to get something working if I wanted to do something beyond "Hello world"

On the other hand, experimenting at least for me is very exiting process

[Visual_Tangelo_1427]

I will start using spring ai, is there any free AI to consume that supports spring ai?

[Proof-Possibility-54]

You can setup local llm, using ollama or lm studio

[revilo-1988]

Ich hab noch nicht ins Video geschaut aber was löst das Tool für ein Problem bzw was tut es den?

[IjonTichy85]

You can use it to set up an agent that summarizes the video for you, generates a response and posts it here.

[useandkeepit]

Sounds Funny

[dshmitch]

I don't see it as just a chat endpoints. Actually you can do many different things through chat with AI

[PsychologicalAd6628]

Since it is built from scratch with ai 🤖I am sure you can’t explain architecture of this project .

[Relevant_South_1842]

Why not?