Dissecting integration styles
Our software systems are composed of many features that must work together to deliver value for the end users. How these features communicate has been one of the most significant topics in our industry. The communication pathways within a system impact the timely flow of information, but they also impact our ability to deliver timely solutions. A highly integrated system will maximize the flow of information. However, if we integrate features too tightly, then it impedes our ability to adapt to changing requirements. It can even put the stability of a system at risk as we make changes.
Our architecture must balance these opposing concerns. Let’s survey the different integration styles to see how they impact our systems, so we can take the best parts from each and bring them together in our new architecture.
Batch integration
When I started my career in software development, the major pain point for the industry was information silos...