Spring @PostConstruct vs. init-method attribute

Question

Is there any difference between using the @PostConstruct annotation and declaring the same method as init-method in Spring XML configuration?

Answer 1

Full code here: https://github.com/wkaczurba/so8519187 (spring-boot)

Using annotations:

@Slf4j
@Component
public class MyComponent implements InitializingBean {

    @Value("${mycomponent.value:Magic}")
    public String value;

    public MyComponent() {
        log.info("MyComponent in constructor: [{}]", value); // (0) displays: Null
    }

    @PostConstruct
    public void postConstruct() {
        log.info("MyComponent in postConstruct: [{}]", value); // (1) displays: Magic
    }

    @Override // init-method; overrides InitializingBean.afterPropertiesSet()
    public void afterPropertiesSet() {
        log.info("MyComponent in afterPropertiesSet: [{}]", value);  // (2) displays: Magic
    }   

    @PreDestroy
    public void preDestroy() {
        log.info("MyComponent in preDestroy: [{}]", value); // (3) displays: Magic
    }
}

Gets us:

Refreshing org.springframework.context...

MyComponent in constructor: [null]
MyComponent in postConstruct: [Magic]
MyComponent in afterPropertiesSet: [Magic]
...

Registering beans for JMX exposure on startup
Started DemoApplication in 0.561 seconds (JVM running for 1.011)
Closing org.springframework.context... Unregistering JMX-exposed beans on shutdown

...
MyComponent in preDestroy: [Magic]