@Configuration vs “lite” @Bean mode? When @Bean methods are declared within classes that are not annotated with @Configuration, they are referred to as being processed in a “lite” mode. Bean methods methods declared in a @Component or even in a plain old class are considered to be “lite”, with a different primary purpose of the containing class and a @Bean method being a sort of bonus there. For example scenarios, @Bean methods are a general-purpose factory method mechanism. Unlike full @Configuration, lite @Bean methods cannot declare inter-bean dependencies. Instead, they operate on their containing component’s

(SPR-8728) * fix regression in ClassPathResource descriptions (SPR-9413) * improve documentation of @Bean 'lite' mode (SPR-9401) * improve documentation of annotated class support in the TestContext framework

(SPR-8728) * fix regression in ClassPathResource descriptions (SPR-9413) * improve documentation of @Bean 'lite' mode (SPR-9401) * improve documentation of annotated class support in the TestContext framework

Full @Configuration vs 'lite' @Beans mode? When @Bean methods are declared within classes that are not annotated with @Configuration they are referred to as being processed in a 'lite' mode. For example, considered 'lite'. Unlike full @Configuration, lite @Bean methods cannot easily declare inter-bean dependencies. Usually one @Bean method should not invoke another @Bean method when operating in 'lite' mode invoked multiple times and helps to reduce subtle bugs that can be hard to track down when operating in 'lite' mode. The @Bean and @Configuration annotations will be discussed in depth in the sections below

(SPR-8728) * fix regression in ClassPathResource descriptions (SPR-9413) * improve documentation of @Bean 'lite' mode (SPR-9401) * improve documentation of annotated class support in the TestContext framework

(SPR-8728) * fix regression in ClassPathResource descriptions (SPR-9413) * improve documentation of @Bean 'lite' mode (SPR-9401) * improve documentation of annotated class support in the TestContext framework

(SPR-8728) * fix regression in ClassPathResource descriptions (SPR-9413) * improve documentation of @Bean 'lite' mode (SPR-9401) * improve documentation of annotated class support in the TestContext framework

(SPR-8728) * fix regression in ClassPathResource descriptions (SPR-9413) * improve documentation of @Bean 'lite' mode (SPR-9401) * improve documentation of annotated class support in the TestContext framework

(SPR-8728) * fix regression in ClassPathResource descriptions (SPR-9413) * improve documentation of @Bean 'lite' mode (SPR-9401) * improve documentation of annotated class support in the TestContext framework

(SPR-8728) * fix regression in ClassPathResource descriptions (SPR-9413) * improve documentation of @Bean 'lite' mode (SPR-9401) * improve documentation of annotated class support in the TestContext framework