Microservices vs Monolith

In this chapter, we will present and comment on two of the most common architectures for complex systems. Monolithic architecture creates a single block where the whole system is contained, and is simple to operate. Microservices architecture, on the other hand, divides the system into smaller microservices that talk to each other, aiming to allow different teams to take ownership of different elements, and helping big teams to work in parallel.

We will discuss when to choose each one, based on its different characteristics. We will also go through the teamwork aspect of them, as they have different requirements in terms of how the work needs to be structured.

Remember that the architecture is not only related to tech, but to a significant degree to how communication is structured! Refer to Chapter 1, Introduction to Software Architecture, for a further discussion of Conway's Law.

A common pattern is to migrate from an old monolithic...