A Spring utility class to return the application context. Works in server applications, standalone apps and jUnit tests.

MyWebServlet.java

@WebServlet(name = "MyWebHook", value = "/WebHook")
public class MyWebServlet extends HttpServlet {


    private MyBean byBean
            = SpringUtils.INSTANCE.ctx(this, true).getBean(MyBean.class);


    public MyWebServlet() {

    }
}

WebAppConfig.kt

package com.company.web.spring

import com.company.jpa.spring.MyBusinessAppConfig
import org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.Autowired
import org.springframework.context.ApplicationContext
import org.springframework.context.annotation.AnnotationConfigApplicationContext
import org.springframework.context.annotation.ComponentScan
import org.springframework.context.annotation.Configuration
import org.springframework.context.annotation.Import
import org.springframework.stereotype.Component
import org.springframework.web.context.ContextLoader
import org.springframework.web.context.WebApplicationContext
import org.springframework.web.context.support.WebApplicationContextUtils
import javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet

@Configuration
@Import(value = [MyBusinessAppConfig::class])
@ComponentScan(basePackageClasses  = [SpringUtils::class])
open class WebAppConfig {
}

/**
 *
 * Singleton object to create (only if necessary), return and reuse a Spring Application Context.
 *
 * When you instantiates a class by yourself, spring context does not autowire its properties, but you can wire by yourself.
 * This class helps to find a context or create a new one, so you can wire properties inside objects that are not
 * created by Spring (e.g.: Servlets, usually created by the web server).
 *
 * Sometimes a SpringContext is created inside jUnit tests, or in the application server, or just manually. Independent
 * where it was created, I recommend you to configure your spring configuration to scan this SpringUtils package, so the 'springAppContext'
 * property will be used and autowired at the SpringUtils object the start of your spring context, and you will have just one instance of spring context public available.
 *
 *Ps: Even if your spring configuration doesn't include the SpringUtils @Component, it will works tto, but it will create a second Spring Context o your application.
 */
@Component
object SpringUtils {

    var springAppContext: ApplicationContext? = null
        @Autowired
        set(value) {
            field = value
        }


    /**
     * Tries to find and reuse the Application Spring Context. If none found, creates one and save for reuse.
     * @return returns a Spring Context.
     */
    fun ctx(): ApplicationContext {
        if (springAppContext!= null) {
            println("achou")
            return springAppContext as ApplicationContext;
        }

        //springcontext not autowired. Trying to find on the thread...
        val webContext = ContextLoader.getCurrentWebApplicationContext()
        if (webContext != null) {
            springAppContext = webContext;
            println("achou no servidor")
            return springAppContext as WebApplicationContext;
        }

        println("nao achou, vai criar")
        //None spring context found. Start creating a new one...
        val applicationContext = AnnotationConfigApplicationContext ( WebAppConfig::class.java )

        //saving the context for reusing next time
        springAppContext = applicationContext
        return applicationContext
    }

    /**
     * @return a Spring context of the WebApplication.
     * @param createNewWhenNotFound when true, creates a new Spring Context to return, when no one found in the ServletContext.
     * @param httpServlet the @WebServlet.
     */
    fun ctx(httpServlet: HttpServlet, createNewWhenNotFound: Boolean): ApplicationContext {
        try {
            val webContext = WebApplicationContextUtils.findWebApplicationContext(httpServlet.servletContext)
            if (webContext != null) {
                return webContext
            }
            if (createNewWhenNotFound) {
                //creates a new one
                return ctx()
            } else {
                throw NullPointerException("Cannot found a Spring Application Context.");
            }
        }catch (er: IllegalStateException){
            if (createNewWhenNotFound) {
                //creates a new one
                return ctx()
            }
            throw er;
        }
    }
}