Cannot instantiate factory class: org.springframework.boot.autoconfigure.AutoConfigurationImportFilter" when run Spring Boot application on Tomcat - spring

Question

I am a newbie on Spring Boot. Just built a Spring Boot example following the Spring Boot Tutorial on the official website, then deployed on the Tomcat with WAR format, got the errors as below when it starts to run:
2017-03-01 09:26:17.838 INFO 12568 --- [ost-startStop-1] hello.SpringBootWebApplicationTest : No active profile set, falling back to default profiles: default
2017-03-01 09:26:18.116 INFO 12568 --- [ost-startStop-1] ationConfigEmbeddedWebApplicationContext : Refreshing org.springframework.boot.context.embedded.AnnotationConfigEmbeddedWebApplicationContext#3c164927: startup date [Wed Mar 01 09:26:18 CST 2017]; root of context hierarchy
2017-03-01 09:26:19.015 WARN 12568 --- [ost-startStop-1] ationConfigEmbeddedWebApplicationContext : Exception encountered during context initialization - cancelling refresh attempt: org.springframework.beans.factory.BeanDefinitionStoreException: Failed to process import candidates for configuration class [hello.SpringBootWebApplicationTest]; nested exception is java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: Cannot instantiate factory class: org.springframework.boot.autoconfigure.AutoConfigurationImportFilter
2017-03-01 09:26:19.044 ERROR 12568 --- [ost-startStop-1] o.s.boot.SpringApplication : Application startup failed
org.springframework.beans.factory.BeanDefinitionStoreException: Failed to process import candidates for configuration class [hello.SpringBootWebApplicationTest]; nested exception is java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: Cannot instantiate factory class: org.springframework.boot.autoconfigure.AutoConfigurationImportFilter
at org.springframework.context.annotation.ConfigurationClassParser.processDeferredImportSelectors(ConfigurationClassParser.java:461) ~[spring-context-4.2.4.RELEASE.jar:4.2.4.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.context.annotation.ConfigurationClassParser.parse(ConfigurationClassParser.java:185) ~[spring-context-4.2.4.RELEASE.jar:4.2.4.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.context.annotation.ConfigurationClassPostProcessor.processConfigBeanDefinitions(ConfigurationClassPostProcessor.java:321) ~[spring-context-4.2.4.RELEASE.jar:4.2.4.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.context.annotation.ConfigurationClassPostProcessor.postProcessBeanDefinitionRegistry(ConfigurationClassPostProcessor.java:243) ~[spring-context-4.2.4.RELEASE.jar:4.2.4.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.context.support.PostProcessorRegistrationDelegate.invokeBeanDefinitionRegistryPostProcessors(PostProcessorRegistrationDelegate.java:273) ~[spring-context-4.2.4.RELEASE.jar:4.2.4.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.context.support.PostProcessorRegistrationDelegate.invokeBeanFactoryPostProcessors(PostProcessorRegistrationDelegate.java:98) ~[spring-context-4.2.4.RELEASE.jar:4.2.4.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.context.support.AbstractApplicationContext.invokeBeanFactoryPostProcessors(AbstractApplicationContext.java:678) ~[spring-context-4.2.4.RELEASE.jar:4.2.4.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.context.support.AbstractApplicationContext.refresh(AbstractApplicationContext.java:520) ~[spring-context-4.2.4.RELEASE.jar:4.2.4.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.context.embedded.EmbeddedWebApplicationContext.refresh(EmbeddedWebApplicationContext.java:122) ~[spring-boot-1.5.1.RELEASE.jar:1.5.1.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.SpringApplication.refresh(SpringApplication.java:737) ~[spring-boot-1.5.1.RELEASE.jar:1.5.1.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.SpringApplication.refreshContext(SpringApplication.java:370) ~[spring-boot-1.5.1.RELEASE.jar:1.5.1.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.SpringApplication.run(SpringApplication.java:314) ~[spring-boot-1.5.1.RELEASE.jar:1.5.1.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.web.support.SpringBootServletInitializer.run(SpringBootServletInitializer.java:152) [spring-boot-1.5.1.RELEASE.jar:1.5.1.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.web.support.SpringBootServletInitializer.createRootApplicationContext(SpringBootServletInitializer.java:132) [spring-boot-1.5.1.RELEASE.jar:1.5.1.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.web.support.SpringBootServletInitializer.onStartup(SpringBootServletInitializer.java:87) [spring-boot-1.5.1.RELEASE.jar:1.5.1.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.web.SpringServletContainerInitializer.onStartup(SpringServletContainerInitializer.java:175) [spring-web-4.2.4.RELEASE.jar:4.2.4.RELEASE]
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContext.startInternal(StandardContext.java:5303) [catalina.jar:8.0.39]
at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:145) [catalina.jar:8.0.39]
at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase$StartChild.call(ContainerBase.java:1408) [catalina.jar:8.0.39]
at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase$StartChild.call(ContainerBase.java:1398) [catalina.jar:8.0.39]
at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask.run(FutureTask.java:266) [na:1.8.0_60]
at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor.runWorker(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:1142) [na:1.8.0_60]
at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:617) [na:1.8.0_60]
at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:745) [na:1.8.0_60]
Caused by: java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: Cannot instantiate factory class: org.springframework.boot.autoconfigure.AutoConfigurationImportFilter
at org.springframework.core.io.support.SpringFactoriesLoader.instantiateFactory(SpringFactoriesLoader.java:138) ~[spring-core-4.2.4.RELEASE.jar:4.2.4.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.core.io.support.SpringFactoriesLoader.loadFactories(SpringFactoriesLoader.java:91) ~[spring-core-4.2.4.RELEASE.jar:4.2.4.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.autoconfigure.AutoConfigurationImportSelector.getAutoConfigurationImportFilters(AutoConfigurationImportSelector.java:279) ~[spring-boot-autoconfigure-1.5.1.RELEASE.jar:1.5.1.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.autoconfigure.AutoConfigurationImportSelector.filter(AutoConfigurationImportSelector.java:250) ~[spring-boot-autoconfigure-1.5.1.RELEASE.jar:1.5.1.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.autoconfigure.AutoConfigurationImportSelector.selectImports(AutoConfigurationImportSelector.java:101) ~[spring-boot-autoconfigure-1.5.1.RELEASE.jar:1.5.1.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.context.annotation.ConfigurationClassParser.processDeferredImportSelectors(ConfigurationClassParser.java:453) ~[spring-context-4.2.4.RELEASE.jar:4.2.4.RELEASE]
... 23 common frames omitted
Caused by: java.lang.IllegalAccessException: Class org.springframework.core.io.support.SpringFactoriesLoader can not access a member of class org.springframework.boot.autoconfigure.condition.OnClassCondition with modifiers ""
at sun.reflect.Reflection.ensureMemberAccess(Reflection.java:102) ~[na:1.8.0_60]
at java.lang.Class.newInstance(Class.java:436) ~[na:1.8.0_60]
at org.springframework.core.io.support.SpringFactoriesLoader.instantiateFactory(SpringFactoriesLoader.java:135) ~[spring-core-4.2.4.RELEASE.jar:4.2.4.RELEASE]
... 28 common frames omitted
2017-03-01 09:26:19.050 ERROR 12568 --- [ina-startStop-1] org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase : A child container failed during start
java.util.concurrent.ExecutionException: org.apache.catalina.LifecycleException: Failed to start component [StandardEngine[Catalina].StandardHost[localhost].StandardContext[/springrestdemo]]
at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask.report(FutureTask.java:122) [na:1.8.0_60]
at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask.get(FutureTask.java:192) [na:1.8.0_60]
at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase.startInternal(ContainerBase.java:943) ~[catalina.jar:8.0.39]
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardHost.startInternal(StandardHost.java:871) [catalina.jar:8.0.39]
at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:145) [catalina.jar:8.0.39]
at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase$StartChild.call(ContainerBase.java:1408) [catalina.jar:8.0.39]
at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase$StartChild.call(ContainerBase.java:1398) [catalina.jar:8.0.39]
at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask.run(FutureTask.java:266) [na:1.8.0_60]
at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor.runWorker(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:1142) [na:1.8.0_60]
at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:617) [na:1.8.0_60]
at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:745) [na:1.8.0_60]
Caused by: org.apache.catalina.LifecycleException: Failed to start component [StandardEngine[Catalina].StandardHost[localhost].StandardContext[/springrestdemo]]
at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:162) [catalina.jar:8.0.39]
... 6 common frames omitted
Caused by: org.springframework.beans.factory.BeanDefinitionStoreException: Failed to process import candidates for configuration class [hello.SpringBootWebApplicationTest]; nested exception is java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: Cannot instantiate factory class: org.springframework.boot.autoconfigure.AutoConfigurationImportFilter
at org.springframework.context.annotation.ConfigurationClassParser.processDeferredImportSelectors(ConfigurationClassParser.java:461) ~[spring-context-4.2.4.RELEASE.jar:4.2.4.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.context.annotation.ConfigurationClassParser.parse(ConfigurationClassParser.java:185) ~[spring-context-4.2.4.RELEASE.jar:4.2.4.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.context.annotation.ConfigurationClassPostProcessor.processConfigBeanDefinitions(ConfigurationClassPostProcessor.java:321) ~[spring-context-4.2.4.RELEASE.jar:4.2.4.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.context.annotation.ConfigurationClassPostProcessor.postProcessBeanDefinitionRegistry(ConfigurationClassPostProcessor.java:243) ~[spring-context-4.2.4.RELEASE.jar:4.2.4.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.context.support.PostProcessorRegistrationDelegate.invokeBeanDefinitionRegistryPostProcessors(PostProcessorRegistrationDelegate.java:273) ~[spring-context-4.2.4.RELEASE.jar:4.2.4.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.context.support.PostProcessorRegistrationDelegate.invokeBeanFactoryPostProcessors(PostProcessorRegistrationDelegate.java:98) ~[spring-context-4.2.4.RELEASE.jar:4.2.4.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.context.support.AbstractApplicationContext.invokeBeanFactoryPostProcessors(AbstractApplicationContext.java:678) ~[spring-context-4.2.4.RELEASE.jar:4.2.4.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.context.support.AbstractApplicationContext.refresh(AbstractApplicationContext.java:520) ~[spring-context-4.2.4.RELEASE.jar:4.2.4.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.context.embedded.EmbeddedWebApplicationContext.refresh(EmbeddedWebApplicationContext.java:122) ~[spring-boot-1.5.1.RELEASE.jar:1.5.1.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.SpringApplication.refresh(SpringApplication.java:737) ~[spring-boot-1.5.1.RELEASE.jar:1.5.1.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.SpringApplication.refreshContext(SpringApplication.java:370) ~[spring-boot-1.5.1.RELEASE.jar:1.5.1.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.SpringApplication.run(SpringApplication.java:314) ~[spring-boot-1.5.1.RELEASE.jar:1.5.1.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.web.support.SpringBootServletInitializer.run(SpringBootServletInitializer.java:152) ~[spring-boot-1.5.1.RELEASE.jar:1.5.1.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.web.support.SpringBootServletInitializer.createRootApplicationContext(SpringBootServletInitializer.java:132) ~[spring-boot-1.5.1.RELEASE.jar:1.5.1.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.web.support.SpringBootServletInitializer.onStartup(SpringBootServletInitializer.java:87) ~[spring-boot-1.5.1.RELEASE.jar:1.5.1.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.web.SpringServletContainerInitializer.onStartup(SpringServletContainerInitializer.java:175) ~[spring-web-4.2.4.RELEASE.jar:4.2.4.RELEASE]
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContext.startInternal(StandardContext.java:5303) ~[catalina.jar:8.0.39]
at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:145) [catalina.jar:8.0.39]
... 6 common frames omitted
Caused by: java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: Cannot instantiate factory class: org.springframework.boot.autoconfigure.AutoConfigurationImportFilter
at org.springframework.core.io.support.SpringFactoriesLoader.instantiateFactory(SpringFactoriesLoader.java:138) ~[spring-core-4.2.4.RELEASE.jar:4.2.4.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.core.io.support.SpringFactoriesLoader.loadFactories(SpringFactoriesLoader.java:91) ~[spring-core-4.2.4.RELEASE.jar:4.2.4.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.autoconfigure.AutoConfigurationImportSelector.getAutoConfigurationImportFilters(AutoConfigurationImportSelector.java:279) ~[spring-boot-autoconfigure-1.5.1.RELEASE.jar:1.5.1.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.autoconfigure.AutoConfigurationImportSelector.filter(AutoConfigurationImportSelector.java:250) ~[spring-boot-autoconfigure-1.5.1.RELEASE.jar:1.5.1.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.autoconfigure.AutoConfigurationImportSelector.selectImports(AutoConfigurationImportSelector.java:101) ~[spring-boot-autoconfigure-1.5.1.RELEASE.jar:1.5.1.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.context.annotation.ConfigurationClassParser.processDeferredImportSelectors(ConfigurationClassParser.java:453) ~[spring-context-4.2.4.RELEASE.jar:4.2.4.RELEASE]
... 23 common frames omitted
Caused by: java.lang.IllegalAccessException: Class org.springframework.core.io.support.SpringFactoriesLoader can not access a member of class org.springframework.boot.autoconfigure.condition.OnClassCondition with modifiers ""
at sun.reflect.Reflection.ensureMemberAccess(Reflection.java:102) ~[na:1.8.0_60]
at java.lang.Class.newInstance(Class.java:436) ~[na:1.8.0_60]
at org.springframework.core.io.support.SpringFactoriesLoader.instantiateFactory(SpringFactoriesLoader.java:135) ~[spring-core-4.2.4.RELEASE.jar:4.2.4.RELEASE]
... 28 common frames omitted
2017-03-01 09:26:19.053 ERROR 12568 --- [ main] org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase : A child container failed during start
java.util.concurrent.ExecutionException: org.apache.catalina.LifecycleException: Failed to start component [StandardEngine[Catalina].StandardHost[localhost]]
at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask.report(FutureTask.java:122) ~[na:1.8.0_60]
at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask.get(FutureTask.java:192) ~[na:1.8.0_60]
at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase.startInternal(ContainerBase.java:943) ~[catalina.jar:8.0.39]
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardEngine.startInternal(StandardEngine.java:262) [catalina.jar:8.0.39]
at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:145) [catalina.jar:8.0.39]
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardService.startInternal(StandardService.java:441) [catalina.jar:8.0.39]
at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:145) [catalina.jar:8.0.39]
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardServer.startInternal(StandardServer.java:789) [catalina.jar:8.0.39]
at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:145) [catalina.jar:8.0.39]
at org.apache.catalina.startup.Catalina.start(Catalina.java:629) [catalina.jar:8.0.39]
at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method) ~[na:1.8.0_60]
at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(NativeMethodAccessorImpl.java:62) ~[na:1.8.0_60]
at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.java:43) ~[na:1.8.0_60]
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:497) ~[na:1.8.0_60]
at org.apache.catalina.startup.Bootstrap.start(Bootstrap.java:351) [bootstrap.jar:8.0.39]
at org.apache.catalina.startup.Bootstrap.main(Bootstrap.java:485) [bootstrap.jar:8.0.39]
Caused by: org.apache.catalina.LifecycleException: Failed to start component [StandardEngine[Catalina].StandardHost[localhost]]
at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:162) [catalina.jar:8.0.39]
at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase$StartChild.call(ContainerBase.java:1408) ~[catalina.jar:8.0.39]
at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase$StartChild.call(ContainerBase.java:1398) ~[catalina.jar:8.0.39]
at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask.run(FutureTask.java:266) ~[na:1.8.0_60]
at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor.runWorker(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:1142) ~[na:1.8.0_60]
at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:617) ~[na:1.8.0_60]
at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:745) ~[na:1.8.0_60]
Caused by: org.apache.catalina.LifecycleException: A child container failed during start
at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase.startInternal(ContainerBase.java:951) ~[catalina.jar:8.0.39]
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardHost.startInternal(StandardHost.java:871) ~[catalina.jar:8.0.39]
at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:145) [catalina.jar:8.0.39]
... 6 common frames omitted
2017-03-01 09:26:19.056 ERROR 12568 --- [ main] org.apache.catalina.startup.Catalina : The required Server component failed to start so Tomcat is unable to start.
org.apache.catalina.LifecycleException: Failed to start component [StandardServer[8005]]
at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:162) ~[catalina.jar:8.0.39]
at org.apache.catalina.startup.Catalina.start(Catalina.java:629) ~[catalina.jar:8.0.39]
at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method) ~[na:1.8.0_60]
at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(NativeMethodAccessorImpl.java:62) ~[na:1.8.0_60]
at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.java:43) ~[na:1.8.0_60]
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:497) ~[na:1.8.0_60]
at org.apache.catalina.startup.Bootstrap.start(Bootstrap.java:351) [bootstrap.jar:8.0.39]
at org.apache.catalina.startup.Bootstrap.main(Bootstrap.java:485) [bootstrap.jar:8.0.39]
Caused by: org.apache.catalina.LifecycleException: Failed to start component [StandardService[Catalina]]
at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:162) ~[catalina.jar:8.0.39]
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardServer.startInternal(StandardServer.java:789) ~[catalina.jar:8.0.39]
at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:145) ~[catalina.jar:8.0.39]
... 7 common frames omitted
Caused by: org.apache.catalina.LifecycleException: Failed to start component [StandardEngine[Catalina]]
at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:162) ~[catalina.jar:8.0.39]
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardService.startInternal(StandardService.java:441) ~[catalina.jar:8.0.39]
at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:145) ~[catalina.jar:8.0.39]
... 9 common frames omitted
Caused by: org.apache.catalina.LifecycleException: A child container failed during start
at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase.startInternal(ContainerBase.java:951) ~[catalina.jar:8.0.39]
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardEngine.startInternal(StandardEngine.java:262) ~[catalina.jar:8.0.39]
at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:145) ~[catalina.jar:8.0.39]
... 11 common frames omitted
The associated pom.xml content is like this:
<packaging>war</packaging>
<artifactId>springrestdemo</artifactId>
<version>0.0.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
<name>springrestdemo Maven Webapp</name>
<url>http://maven.apache.org</url>
<properties>
<project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
<project.version>6.2.0.0-SNAPSHOT</project.version>
<springfox-swagger2.version>2.6.1</springfox-swagger2.version>
<org.apache.directory.api.api-all.version>1.0.0-M28</org.apache.directory.api.api-all.version>
<spring.framework.version>4.2.4.RELEASE</spring.framework.version>
<spring.boot.version>1.5.1.RELEASE</spring.boot.version>
<spring.version>4.2.4.RELEASE</spring.version>
<start-class>hello.SpringBootWebApplicationTest</start-class>
</properties>
<parent>
<groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
<artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
<version>1.5.1.RELEASE</version>
</parent>
<dependencies>
<dependency>
<groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
<artifactId>spring-boot-starter-web</artifactId>
<exclusions>
<exclusion>
<artifactId>log4j-over-slf4j</artifactId>
<groupId>org.slf4j</groupId>
</exclusion>
<exclusion>
<groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
<artifactId>spring-boot-starter-tomcat</artifactId>
</exclusion>
</exclusions>
</dependency>
<dependency>
<groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
<artifactId>spring-boot-starter-test</artifactId>
<scope>test</scope>
</dependency>
<dependency>
<groupId>com.jayway.jsonpath</groupId>
<artifactId>json-path</artifactId>
<scope>test</scope>
</dependency>
<!-- Swagger box for automatically generating doc -->
<dependency>
<groupId>io.springfox</groupId>
<artifactId>springfox-swagger2</artifactId>
<version>2.4.0</version>
</dependency>
<!-- Swagger UI for Testing REST api -->
<dependency>
<groupId>io.springfox</groupId>
<artifactId>springfox-swagger-ui</artifactId>
<version>2.4.0</version>
</dependency>
<dependency>
<groupId>javax.servlet</groupId>
<artifactId>javax.servlet-api</artifactId>
</dependency>
<dependency>
<groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
<artifactId>tomcat-servlet-api</artifactId>
<version>8.0.36</version>
<scope>provided</scope>
</dependency>
<dependency>
<groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
<artifactId>spring-boot-starter-test</artifactId>
<scope>test</scope>
</dependency>
<dependency>
<groupId>com.jayway.jsonpath</groupId>
<artifactId>json-path</artifactId>
<scope>test</scope>
</dependency>
</dependencies>
<build>
<finalName>springrestdemo</finalName>
<plugins>
<plugin>
<groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
<artifactId>spring-boot-maven-plugin</artifactId>
<configuration>
<executable>true</executable>
<fork>true</fork>
<mainClass>${start-class}</mainClass>
<testFailureIgnore>true</testFailureIgnore>
</configuration>
<executions>
<execution>
<goals>
<goal>repackage</goal>
</goals>
</execution>
</executions>
</plugin>
<plugin>
<groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
<artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
<configuration>
<source>1.8</source>
<target>1.8</target>
</configuration>
</plugin>
</plugins>
</build>
<repositories>
<repository>
<id>spring-releases</id>
<url>https://repo.spring.io/libs-release</url>
</repository>
</repositories>
<pluginRepositories>
<pluginRepository>
<id>spring-releases</id>
<url>https://repo.spring.io/libs-release</url>
</pluginRepository>
</pluginRepositories>
Anyone can help? Thanks for your help in advance.
PS:
the code files lists are：
Greeting.java
GreetingController.java
SpringBootWebApplicationTest.java
under the same folder named "hello"
The configurations code is as below:
package hello;
import org.springframework.boot.SpringApplication;
import org.springframework.boot.autoconfigure.SpringBootApplication;
import org.springframework.boot.builder.SpringApplicationBuilder;
import org.springframework.boot.web.support.SpringBootServletInitializer;
#SpringBootApplication
public class SpringBootWebApplicationTest extends SpringBootServletInitializer {
#Override
protected SpringApplicationBuilder configure(SpringApplicationBuilder application) {
return application.sources(SpringBootWebApplicationTest.class);
}
public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {
System.out.println("Hello World! in main");
SpringApplication.run(SpringBootWebApplicationTest.class, args);
}
}

Answer 1

#Ron, in you pom file you are overriding spring dependency versions that are incompatible with the spring-boot version you are using, you need to let spring-boot to import is predefined spring dependency versions. Below is the relevant portion of the pom that needs to be changed:
<properties>
<project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
<project.version>6.2.0.0-SNAPSHOT</project.version>
<springfox-swagger2.version>2.6.1</springfox-swagger2.version>
<org.apache.directory.api.api-all.version>1.0.0-M28</org.apache.directory.api.api-all.version>
<!-- REMOVE THIS <spring.framework.version>4.2.4.RELEASE</spring.framework.version> -->
<spring.boot.version>1.5.1.RELEASE</spring.boot.version>
<!-- REMOVE THIS <spring.version>4.2.4.RELEASE</spring.version> -->
<start-class>hello.SpringBootWebApplicationTest</start-class>
</properties>