Comparing microservices and monoliths

Before we dive too deeply into code, we should spend some time discussing the differences between microservices and monolithic architecture. The microservices versus monolithic architecture debate is as old as computing itself (and the theory is probably even older). Understanding how these two approaches relate to each other and your problem set will help you decide which one to use.

My history with microservices versus monolithic architecture

Before we get into the microservices versus monoliths discussion, I wanted to share my own history. I doubt it’s unique, but it does frame my outlook on the discussion and adds some context to the recommendations in this chapter.

My introduction to this discussion was when I was a computer science student in college and had started using Linux and open source. One of my favorite books, Open Sources: Voices from the Open Source Revolution, had an appendix on the debate between Andrew Tanenbaum...