Understanding Microservices
Microservices architecture breaks monolithic applications into smaller, independently deployable services.
When to Use Microservices
Consider microservices when your team exceeds 20 developers, you need independent scaling, or require technology flexibility.
Service Design Principles
Design services around business capabilities, ensure loose coupling, and maintain clear API contracts. Each service should own its data.
Communication Patterns
Choose between synchronous (REST, gRPC) and asynchronous (message queues) communication based on use case requirements.
Deployment and DevOps
Containerize services with Docker, orchestrate with Kubernetes, and implement CI/CD pipelines for each service.
Monitoring and Tracing
Distributed tracing and centralized logging are essential. Use tools like Jaeger and ELK stack for observability.
Common Pitfalls
- Over-fragmenting services
- Ignoring network latency
- Poor service boundaries
- Inadequate monitoring
Conclusion
Microservices offer many benefits but add complexity. Ensure your team is ready before making the transition.