Choosing between microservices and monolithic architecture is a critical decision. Here’s how to make the right choice.

Monolithic Architecture

Characteristics

  • Single codebase
  • Single deployment unit
  • Shared database
  • Tightly coupled components

Advantages

// Simple development
// Easy to test
// Straightforward deployment
// Shared code and data

Disadvantages

  • Hard to scale individual components
  • Technology lock-in
  • Deployment risk (all or nothing)
  • Difficult to maintain as it grows

Microservices Architecture

Characteristics

  • Multiple independent services
  • Separate deployments
  • Service-specific databases
  • Loosely coupled via APIs

Advantages

  • Independent scaling
  • Technology diversity
  • Fault isolation
  • Team autonomy

Disadvantages

  • Increased complexity
  • Network latency
  • Data consistency challenges
  • Operational overhead

When to Choose Monolith

Start with Monolith If:

  1. Small team (< 10 developers)
  2. Simple application
  3. Rapid prototyping
  4. Limited resources
  5. Unclear requirements
// Good for startups
// MVP development
// Small to medium applications

When to Choose Microservices

Consider Microservices If:

  1. Large team (> 50 developers)
  2. Complex domain
  3. Different scaling needs
  4. Multiple teams
  5. Clear service boundaries
// Good for large organizations
// Complex systems
// Different technology needs

Migration Strategy

Strangler Fig Pattern

// Gradually replace monolith
// Extract services incrementally
// Keep monolith running during migration

Steps

  1. Identify service boundaries
  2. Extract one service at a time
  3. Maintain backward compatibility
  4. Monitor and iterate

Best Practices

For Monoliths

  • Keep modules loosely coupled
  • Use clear boundaries
  • Plan for future extraction
  • Maintain clean architecture

For Microservices

  • Define clear service boundaries
  • Implement proper API contracts
  • Use service mesh for communication
  • Implement distributed tracing
  • Handle failures gracefully

Common Pitfalls

Microservices Anti-patterns

  • Too many small services
  • Distributed monolith
  • Shared databases
  • Synchronous communication everywhere

Monolith Anti-patterns

  • God classes
  • Tight coupling
  • No module boundaries
  • Big ball of mud

Conclusion

Start with monolith when:

  • Building MVP
  • Small team
  • Simple requirements

Move to microservices when:

  • Clear service boundaries
  • Different scaling needs
  • Large team
  • Complex domain

Key principle: Choose based on your current needs, not future speculation. You can always migrate later! 🚀