The traditional approach to application design focused on monolithic architecture, where all elements that can be implemented were contained in a single application. This approach has its drawbacks: the larger the application, the more difficult it is to troubleshoot problems and add new features quickly. On the other hand, if applications are designed with microservices, these problems are solved and development and responsiveness are boosted.
What are Microservices?
Microservices are both a development technique and a software structure fashion , where a software is decomposed into smaller, independent services, as opposed to the monolithic technique in which the whole device consists of a unmarried piece of software program.
Each of these applications runs within its own framework, and communicates with the others through well-defined interfaces such as APIs.
This modularity enables development teams to work on multiple projects simultaneously, improving efficiency and simplifying rule management.
Differences between Microservices and Monolithic Architecture
In monolithic architecture an application is considered and developed in a single, indivisible block.
All components are closely intertwined in a monolithic system but in microservices each element is autonomous , allowing for greater scalability and ease of maintenance.
This is why many software developers and leading custom software development company in the field of computing are abandoning monolithic architecture for microservices by enabling the following advantages.
Advantages of Microservices
Specifically, the advantages of microservices can be classified into the following categories:
Scalability in Microservices
Independent scalability is one of the key strengths of microservices. This makes it easier to adapt applications to fluctuations in demand without altering the entire structure.
As an illustration, in a monolithic architecture, an increase in demand on one service would affect the entire application. Instead, with microservices, that service can be scaled specifically to handle the additional load.
Simplified Maintenance
Another advantage of microservices is their maintainability. As each one is autonomous, with well-defined responsibilities, its management and updating are considerably simplified.
This means that, in the event of errors, only the microservice involved is affected, avoiding a widespread impact on the application.
Greater Flexibility
Flexibility allows the integration of various technologies and frameworks in each service so it is considered as a crucial aspect of microservices.
Development Agility
Finally, microservices drive an agile development methodology. Thanks to its modular structure , teams can work more autonomously and collaboratively, focusing on specific services without depending on the progression of the entire application.
Each team has the freedom to focus on their assigned area, thus optimizing workflow and productivity.
Characteristics of Microservices
Having identified the advantages of microservices, now let’s look at the most important characteristics that make this software architecture one of the most used today:
Autonomy in Microservices
Microservices are distinguished by their autonomy. Each one operates in isolation, with specific responsibilities, which enables its development, implementation and deployment individually.
This independence facilitates not only maintenance, but also the continuous evolution of applications.
Synergy between Services
Although they operate autonomously, microservices have the ability to work together, providing end-to-end functionality.
This is achieved through APIs that enable secure and effective communication between the different services.
Ease of Management
In terms of maintenance, microservices offer easier management compared to monolithic architectures. Since each microservice is independent and has a clear purpose, it is maintained in isolation, minimizing the effects of possible errors on the rest of the application.
Technological Versatility
Versatility is another pillar of microservices, as it incorporates different technologies and frameworks for each service. These changes are important for applications that must adapt to changes in business requirements or technological advances.
Microservices Classification
Computing Microservices
These microservices are designed to optimize the processing and operation of systems.
They include solutions from highly efficient containers, such as Amazon ECS with support for Docker and Amazon EKS (Kubernetes), to options to run code without the need to manage servers, such as AWS Lambda.
Data Storage and Management
These services range from solutions for caching and object storage, to database management systems, both NoSQL , such as Amazon DynamoDB, or relational, such as Aurora. These types of microservices are focused on offering solutions that are scalable, durable and secure.
Network Microservices
This category includes microservices that facilitate the discovery and management of network services, load balancing in applications, API management and DNS services. These tools contribute to more efficient and faster network management.
Messenger service
Messaging microservices facilitate the coordination of communications between processes in an effective and autonomous way, through subscription, publication and message queue systems.
Registration, Monitoring and Tracking
This category of microservices focuses on monitoring performance and resource utilization in complex architectures. They allow detailed traces to identify and resolve problems, as well as optimize overall system performance.
Microservices for DevOps
DevOps-oriented microservices manage the entire code lifecycle, from commit to deployment. They include everything from container image repositories such as Amazon Elastic Container Registry (ECR), to tools for integration and continuous delivery in the software development environment.
Microservices for efficient business systems
Microservices represent an important advancement in software development, providing greater flexibility, scalability and efficiency.
While difficult to implement, it can take applications to new levels of operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
If you are considering adopting this architecture in your project, it is essential to understand its advantages and prepare for a planned and strategic transition.
With microservices, the future of software development services looks more modular, agile and adapted to the changing needs of the digital world.
About the Guest Author:
Glad you are reading this. I’m Yokesh Shankar, the COO at Sparkout Tech, one of the primary founders of a highly creative space. I’m more associated with digital transformation solutions for global issues. Nurturing in Fintech, Supply chain, AR VR solutions, Real estate, and other sectors vitalizing new-age technology, I see this space as a forum to share and seek information. Writing and reading give me more clarity about what I need.
