When we talk about software architecture, there are many methods that can be discussed. In this blog, we talk about the two popular methods - Monolith and Microservices architecture. The traditional Monolithic method is based on a unified approach where the code for the tools is not autonomous, even though they might not be connected. On the other hand, the more current, Microservices method focuses on building single-function modules with well-defined interfaces and operations. In recent years, as enterprises move towards DevOps and become more Agile, Microservices has evolved as a popular trend. Big names like Netflix, eBay, Amazon, Twitter, PayPal, and other tech stars have evolved from Monolithic to Microservices because of its advantages.
To understand Microservices better, let’s look at some of the benefits of Microservices over the Monolithic approach.
Limitations of Microservices
Even with all the advantages, Microservices is definitely not a universal remedy for all types of architecture requirements. It is important to consider these limitations before making your choice.
- Testing can become complicated due to the distributed nature of the deployment
- There may be information barriers, complexity in integration, and management in case of an increasing number of services
- There can be instances of duplication as it is a distributed system
- Additional efforts are required to implement a mechanism of communication between distributed services and teams
Microservices Use case – Uber
Initially, Uber was using monolithic architecture which was used for a single offering in a single city. This approach was suitable for smaller-scale operations. As Uber expanded worldwide, they faced issues with integration and scalability with Monolithic Architecture.
Benefits of Microservices for Uber
- Enhanced speed, quality, and manageability due to clear ownership of development teams
- Fast scaling due to distribution
- Individual services can be updated without disrupting other services
- More reliable fault tolerance
Conclusion
Microservices is definitely an idea worth considering for your enterprise applications. This has also been demonstrated by several big companies, who have made the shift from Monolithic to Microservices. Here it would be important to note that, you need to have a mature development team, as well as a management team, who can handle the complexities of the distributed nature of Microservices.
