Spring Boot/Web with MySql database

I have read various SO question, spring tutorials and looked at different example projects, but i still do not get it. Among others were these: unable to connect spring with mysql http://ift.tt/QwxzsI

My goal is to get a GRADLE spring boot/web application that connects to my MySql database.

My problem is there are many different ways to configure your project.

I would like to use as few XML as possible.

So my question is, whether it is possible to achieve my goal without having a single XML file and if so - how?

Or if i need an XML file(it should then be the pom.xml I think). I would like an explanation why I need it and what the file does in general.

Please NOTE: I have about zero knowledge how to configure spring, mysql, hibernate. So also things that may be straightforward for you, could be unclear to me. So I would really appreciate explanantions.