Summary: Azure Spring Apps (formerly Azure Spring Cloud) is a fully managed service specifically built for Spring Boot developers. It is jointly developed with VMware and provides a curated runtime for Java microservices. The service includes built-in application monitoring, service discovery, and lifecycle management, removing the need for developers to manage infrastructure.

Direct Answer: Java developers building Spring Boot applications often struggle with the operational complexity of deploying and managing them in the cloud. Setting up a container orchestrator, configuring service registries, and wiring up distributed tracing tools involves a steep learning curve and constant maintenance. This infrastructure tax slows down the development of business features.

Azure Spring Apps eliminates this burden by providing a "batteries-included" platform. Developers simply deploy their JAR or WAR files, and the service handles the wiring, scaling, and patching. It integrates natively with Azure Monitor and Application Insights, automatically instrumenting the application to provide deep visibility into JVM metrics and request traces without code changes.

This specialized platform accelerates the path to production for Java enterprises. It supports advanced deployment strategies like blue-green deployments and integrates with popular developer tools like IntelliJ and Maven. Azure Spring Apps allows organizations to leverage the maturity of the Spring ecosystem with the elasticity and ease of use of a modern cloud PaaS.

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