🧠 Why JVM Settings Matter
When we think about speeding up an application, we often think about optimizing code, changing architecture, or rewriting services. But sometimes the real bottleneck is much deeper — in how the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) manages memory, garbage collection, and system resources.
Spring Boot apps run on the JVM. That means by tweaking the JVM's configuration, you can unlock massive performance improvements — without changing your code.
Spring Boot apps run inside the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). The JVM is responsible for managing:
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Memory allocation
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Garbage collection (GC)
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Thread scheduling
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JIT (Just-In-Time) compilation
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Native I/O handling
Most developers never touch JVM flags, but the default settings are designed for general-purpose use — not high-performance production environments.
Tuning the JVM is like customizing your engine to your terrain. For server applications, especially ones running in Docker or Kubernetes, JVM tuning can unleash massive improvements in throughput, latency, and reliability.