new blog

Author: andimarek

content/blog/graphql-aims-to-be-used-directly.md

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+title = "GraphQL Java aims to be used directly"
+author = "Andreas Marek"
+tags = []
+categories = []
+date = 2018-11-10T01:00:00+10:00
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+
+There seems to be a common misconception about GraphQL Java: that you should not use it directly, 
+but rather use another library build on top of it.
+
+We think it is important to make it clear, that this is not the case: GraphQL Java aims to be a library used directly 
+without any additionally abstraction on top. It was always build with this goal in mind.
+
+To be fair: we didn't do a very good job so far to make that clear. For example up 
+[until recently](https://www.graphql-java.com/blog/moving-projects/) we hosted several other projects which 
+provided abstractions on top of GraphQL Java. This was because of historical reasons and we didn't give any 
+guidance on when to use what. There are also currently more tutorials out there which don't use GraphQL Java directly
+compared to tutorials which do.
+
+The other reason people might think that GraphQL Java is not suitable is because the [core project](https://github.com/graphql-java/graphql-java) 
+doesn't provide any easy way to get full service with HTTP endpoint up and running. 
+And the existing third party projects providing for example Spring Boot support 
+are adding abstractions.
+
+The core project doesn't deal with any form of HTTP or JSON specific things and has on purpose basically no 
+dependencies at all. This will not change, but we recognize the need for having an easy way to get a 
+full service up and running. This is why we are currently working on first class Spring (Boot) support.  
+
+This is not done yet, but it will provide an easy way to integrate GraphQL Java in a Spring (Boot) application 
+without adding any abstraction on top of GraphQL Java. It will also be extended over time with more advanced features 
+like Apollo Defer support. 
+
+
+To recap:
+
+1. GraphQL Java aims to be a first class library used directly
+1. The [GraphQL Java core project](https://github.com/graphql-java/graphql-java) doesn't deal with HTTP/JSON and will continue not do it
+1. The [GraphQL Java Spring project](https://github.com/graphql-java/graphql-java-spring) will complement 
+the core project in providing comprehensive Spring (Boot) support
+
+Cheers,<br>
+Andi
+
+