Spring framework self-training

Question

I'd like to learn Spring MVC framework basis. My personal experience tells clearly that more than reading manuals, docs, howtos only is only one important part of self-training, but to capitalize real experience you need to solve real problems. May someone suggest a fake-project that I can implement in my free-time, avoiding only-theoretical approaches and at the same time watch at the main issues of Spring programming? Does a NerdDinner.com-like free-chapter somewhere exists for Spring?

Answer 1

You could go through each of the Spring samples, and attempt to recreate them on your own.

I have found that a very effective method for learning Spring is to go on the Spring JIRA and solve a bug. It forces you to get down and dirty in the code, and you get to see what's really going on behind the scenes.