Before microservices, the standard way of developing applications was with a monolithic architecture. This means all the components of the application, essentially the entire codebase was part of a single unit. For example, consider an online shop application. All its functionalities, such as user authentication, shopping cart, product catalog, sales campaigns, notifications, and more, would exist in one codebase as part of a single monolithic application. Everything was developed, deployed, and scaled as one unit.
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This approach meant the application had to be written in a single programming language, using one technology stack with a single runtime. If different teams worked on various parts of the application, they needed to coordinate extensively to avoid interfering with each other’s work. Additionally, if developers made changes to the payment functionality, they would need to rebuild and deploy the entire application as a single package. It wasn’t possible to update and deploy just the changes made to the payment functionality.
While monolithic architecture was the standard for application development, it started posing significant challenges as applications grew and complexity:
As the codebase grew larger, coordination between teams became increasingly difficult. The components of the application were often tightly coupled, making it harder to manage and modify specific parts without affecting others.
Monolithic applications lacked flexibility in scaling. For instance, if there was a usage spike in the shopping cart functionality—such as during holiday sales—you couldn’t scale just the shopping cart. Instead, you had to scale the entire application, which led to higher infrastructure costs and reduced scalability.
Releasing updates in monolithic applications took longer because any changes—no matter how small—required building, testing, and deploying the entire application. This process increased the time to market for new features or updates.
As applications became more complex and these challenges became more pronounced, the solution was a microservices architecture.
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Microservices architecture is a modern approach to software development that structures an application as a collection of small, independent, and loosely coupled services. Each service in a microservices architecture is designed to handle a specific business function, such as user authentication, shopping cart management, payment processing, or product catalog management. These services operate independently but communicate with each other through well-defined APIs.
Unlike monolithic architecture, where all functionalities are tightly integrated into a single codebase, microservices break the application into smaller, more manageable components. Each service can be developed, deployed, and scaled independently, offering greater flexibility and efficiency.
Each service is built around a specific business domain and operates independently of other services. Teams can develop services using the programming languages, frameworks, and databases that best suit the needs of that specific service.
Individual services can be scaled independently. For example, if the shopping cart experiences a usage spike, only that service can be scaled up without affecting other parts of the application.
Teams can work on different microservices simultaneously, allowing for faster development cycles and quicker deployment of features.
How does Microservice work?
1. Each microservice in the architecture typically includes:
Business Logic: The core functionality it provides.
Database: A dedicated database or storage system for its specific needs (though some microservices may share databases, it’s less common).
API Layer: A defined way to interact with other services or external systems.
2. For example, in an online store:
The user authentication service manages login and registration.
The shopping cart service handles adding and removing items from a cart.
The payment service processes transactions.
These services communicate with each other using lightweight protocols like HTTP/REST, gRPC, or messaging queues.
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While microservices offer significant benefits, they also introduce complexities, such as:
Increased Operational Overhead: Managing multiple services requires robust infrastructure and tools for monitoring, logging, and debugging.
Complex Inter-Service Communication: Ensuring reliable and efficient communication between services can be challenging.
Data Consistency Issues: Managing data across multiple services often requires distributed database strategies.
Higher Learning Curve: Teams need expertise in designing, deploying, and maintaining microservices systems.
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Whether microservices are essential for modern IT infrastructure depends on the specific needs, goals, and scale of an organization. While microservices offer many benefits, they are not a one-size-fits-all solution and may not be necessary for every use case.
A professional degree emphasizes handling scalable applications, similar to learning React Framework to build high-performance full-stack solutions and Cloud Management to scale services independently in cloud-native environments.
Agility and Flexibility
A degree program focuses on flexibility in addressing diverse challenges, akin to designing adaptable systems in RDBMS and applying agile principles in System Analysis and Design to manage evolving requirements effectively.
Complex and Evolving Applications
The degree prepares students for modular, complex systems by teaching advanced web design techniques with PHP and MySQL, alongside dynamic interfaces using JavaScript and jQuery.
Modern degree programs incorporate Cloud Management and Cyber Security, preparing students for cloud-nativ systems, just as microservices leverage cloud-native tools to optimize deployment and security.
Building robust systems with fault tolerance mirrors the curriculum’s focus on Computer Security Fundamentals and developing resilient mobile applications using Kotlin.
A diploma program is more focused and compact, equipping students with the foundational skills needed for smaller or specific projects. Similarly, monolithic architectures (the alternative to microservices) are better suited for smaller applications that don’t require extensive scaling or modularity.
Diploma programs are typically shorter and more affordable, ideal for individuals or organizations with constrained resources. A monolithic approach, like a diploma, works well when infrastructure and operational budgets are tight.
A diploma provides quick, practical skills for entry-level positions or early-stage professionals, much like a monolithic architecture accelerates time-to-market for startups building MVPs.
A professional degree in software engineering aligns with the principles of microservices: comprehensive, scalable, and suited for long-term, high-impact goals. On the other hand, a professional diploma matches the characteristics of monolithic architecture: focused, efficient, and appropriate for smaller or more straightforward challenges. The choice between the two—whether in education or architecture—depends on your objectives, resources, and the complexity of your needs.
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