# Getting started
LLMS index: [llms.txt](/llms.txt)
---
> [!NOTE]
>
> You can also use the [Java agent](../../agent) to instrument your Spring Boot
> application. For the pros and cons, see [Java zero-code instrumentation](..).
## Compatibility
The OpenTelemetry Spring Boot starter works with Spring Boot 2.6+ and 3.1+, and
Spring Boot native image applications. The
[opentelemetry-java-examples/spring-native](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-examples/tree/main/spring-native)
repository contains an example of a Spring Boot Native image application
instrumented using the OpenTelemetry Spring Boot starter.
## Dependency management
A Bill of Material
([BOM](https://maven.apache.org/guides/introduction/introduction-to-dependency-mechanism.html#bill-of-materials-bom-poms))
ensures that versions of dependencies (including transitive ones) are aligned.
To ensure version alignment across all OpenTelemetry dependencies, you must
import the `opentelemetry-instrumentation-bom` BOM when using the OpenTelemetry
starter.
> [!NOTE]
>
> When using Maven, import the OpenTelemetry BOMs before any other BOMs in your
> project. For example, if you import the `spring-boot-dependencies` BOM, you
> have to declare it after the OpenTelemetry BOMs.
>
> Gradle selects the
> [latest version](https://docs.gradle.org/current/userguide/dependency_resolution.html#2_perform_conflict_resolution)
> of a dependency when multiple BOMs, so the order of BOMs is not important.
The following example shows how to import the OpenTelemetry BOMs using Maven:
```xml
io.opentelemetry.instrumentationopentelemetry-instrumentation-bom2.26.1pomimport
```
With Gradle and Spring Boot, you have two ways to import a BOM.
You can use the Gradle’s native BOM support by adding `dependencies`:
```kotlin
import org.springframework.boot.gradle.plugin.SpringBootPlugin
plugins {
id("java")
id("org.springframework.boot") version "3.2.O"
}
dependencies {
implementation(platform(SpringBootPlugin.BOM_COORDINATES))
implementation(platform("io.opentelemetry.instrumentation:opentelemetry-instrumentation-bom:2.26.1"))
}
```
The other way with Gradle is to use the `io.spring.dependency-management` plugin
and to import the BOMs in `dependencyManagement`:
```kotlin
plugins {
id("java")
id("org.springframework.boot") version "3.2.O"
id("io.spring.dependency-management") version "1.1.0"
}
dependencyManagement {
imports {
mavenBom("io.opentelemetry.instrumentation:opentelemetry-instrumentation-bom:2.26.1")
}
}
```
> [!NOTE]
>
> Be careful not to mix up the different ways of configuring things with Gradle.
> For example, don't use
> `implementation(platform("io.opentelemetry.instrumentation:opentelemetry-instrumentation-bom:2.26.1"))`
> with the `io.spring.dependency-management` plugin.
### OpenTelemetry Starter dependency
Add the dependency given below to enable the OpenTelemetry starter.
The OpenTelemetry starter uses OpenTelemetry Spring Boot
[autoconfiguration](https://docs.spring.io/spring-boot/reference/using/auto-configuration.html).