The basic idea behind a microservice architecture is that applications are easier to create and maintain when disassembled into small, seamlessly interacting parts. The software functionality is isolated in several independent modules. These are individually responsible for the execution of well-defined independent tasks. We have several articles on microservices to explain the basic matters, such as Microservices vs API Based Cloud Services, Difference Between SOA and Microservices, Serverless Computing and Microservices, Relationship Between Microservices, Docker and Kubernetes and so on.
The modules communicate with each other via simple, universally accessible Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). Each microservice can use a different programming language or database, so that new technologies can be tried out and integrated at any time. In addition, legacy systems can be extended with the code blocks, without making any major changes to their code base. So companies gain a lot of flexibility through microservices. We can react faster to changes, try new things and save resources. Since the individual components are isolated from each other, each function can be designed in such a way that it adapts to the company-specific requirements and capacities.
This makes it possible to scale much more accurately and efficiently. For example, if we want to add a new functionality to an application, you do not have to rebuild the entire application. This procedure is not only faster, it also provides more stability in the application.
If a new software component does not work properly or fails, it affects only this single, relatively simple microservice – not the entire application. So the company can afford to experiment with new processes or algorithms without losing a lot.
---
Challenges of Monolithic Architecture include:
- Inflexibility. We can not build the monolithic applications using different technologies
- They are unreliable. Issue or bug of one feature makes the whole system to fail.
- Not scalable. Scaling monotheistic web applications is not easy as each time the application needs to be updated, the complete system needs work.
- Monolithic blocks Continous Development.
- Slow Development.
Advantages Of Microservices:
- Independent Development
- Independent Deployment
- Easy fault Isolation
- Agility to deploy mixed Technology Stack
- Granular Scaling
Microservices make troubleshooting easier
For monolithic architectures, developers often face the problem that all functions and extensions build on the same base code. Different teams work independently on specific functions and tasks, but it is inevitable that they are constantly changing parts of the common code. Every change also always affects at least one neighbor team. In a microservice architecture, this problem does not exist. Each development team is responsible for a certain number of microservices, sometimes just a single microservice. With Microservices, cross functional teams will enable teams to work as single cohesive piece to build scalable microservices architecture. The code blocks are interconnected by APIs, but share no common base code. In this way, the individual teams can act more freely, but bear greater responsibility for their functions. In addition, it is possible to form smaller development teams that are very flexible in their area of responsibility and can concentrate completely on the microservices assigned to them. This increases productivity. New developers can be involved faster because it is easier to understand small, isolated functionalities than an entire monolithic application. Increased productivity also affects troubleshooting: it’s easier to monitor smaller structures and quickly fix bugs.
