Microservices are a popular method of software development that allows for independent, connected services to work together without disrupting overall workflow. This approach is favored for its ability to improve performance, accuracy, and productivity, and can be analyzed using specialized tools for insights on performance and service levels. By using microservices, teams are able to work on individual services without affecting the entire project, a benefit not possible with other architectural styles. In this guide, learn about the basics of microservices, how they function, and the benefits they can offer your team.
What Are Microservices?
Microservices are a software development architectural style that structures applications as a collection of loosely connected services, making it easier for developers to build and scale apps. This approach differs from the traditional monolithic style, which treats software development as a single unit. With microservices, software development is broken down into smaller, independent “chunks” where each chunk executes a specific service or function. This method utilizes integration, API management, and cloud deployment technologies to allow for quick expansion as user needs and requirements evolve. The need for microservices has grown as applications become larger and more complex, requiring a new approach to development.
Did you know more than 60% of enterprises are adopting microservices.
Why Use Microservices?
- Scalability: The ability to easily scale up or down as needed, without impacting the entire system.
- Faster development: The ability to work on individual services independently, allowing for faster development and deployment.
- Improved data security: With data partitioned into smaller, more manageable pieces, it becomes easier to secure and protect.
- Better data governance: The ability to track and monitor data usage more closely, improving overall data governance.
- Language and technology agnosticism: The ability to choose the most appropriate language and technology for each service, rather than being limited to a single option.
Did you know more than 75% of organizations believe microservices fulfill a critical business agenda
Microservices in the Cloud (AWS and Azure)
Microservices and cloud environments are closely connected, with the cloud being an essential part of the microservices architecture. Developers use Docker containers to package and deploy microservices in private and hybrid cloud environments, which provides benefits such as:
- Access to microservices from a single cloud location
- Ability to make back-end changes to microservices through the cloud without affecting other microservices
- If one microservice fails, the rest of the app remains unaffected
- Ability to create and scale microservices from any location
Microservices in the Cloud (AWS and Azure)
There are various platforms that automate many of the processes involved in using microservices in the cloud. However, there are two platforms in particular that developers should consider:
AWS
AWS provides tools and services that enable developers to build and deploy microservices in the cloud. These tools include API Gateway, which allows developers to create, manage, and monitor APIs; Lambda, a serverless computing platform that lets developers execute code without the need to worry about infrastructure; and CloudFormation, a service that helps developers automate the creation and management of AWS resources. By using these and other tools, developers can create highly scalable and reliable applications for their clients.
Azure
Microsoft Azure is a cloud-based platform that offers tools and services for developers to create, deploy, and manage microservices. One key feature of Azure is the ability to use circuit breaking patterns to improve the reliability and security of individual microservices, rather than attempting to address these issues at the level of the entire application. Azure also offers API management for both internal and external use, as well as capabilities for authentication, throttling, monitoring, and caching management. These features make Azure a valuable tool for teams looking to improve their agile software development processes using microservices.
Microservices in e-Commerce
Microservices have been a game-changer for retailers who used to rely on monolithic architecture for their apps. The monolithic method had several drawbacks: it took a long time to make changes to the underlying code and front-end platforms, resulting in unstable systems; services were dependent on one another, making it difficult to separate them; and making changes to the application required a large number of developers, leading to high costs.
Microservices have helped retailers by allowing them to use separate services for different tasks such as billing, accounts, merchandising, marketing, and campaign management. This approach allows for more integrations and fewer problems. For example, if there is an issue with the payment provider, it can be debugged without affecting other services like marketing and merchandising. API-based services allow microservices to communicate with each other while still functioning independently. This simpler approach has been a benefit to retailers across various niches.
Microservices Architecture
Microservices in software development work in a similar way. Each service is responsible for a specific task or function, and they work together towards the common goal of creating a successful application. However, if one service experiences an issue, it should not affect the overall performance of the application. This level of independence allows developers to work on individual services without disrupting the rest of the application.
Did you know the cloud microservices market is projected to hit worth $21.67 billion by 2030 at a 18.6% CAGR.
How Are Microservices Built?
Microservices are built using a variety of tools and technologies. Here are some common steps in the process:
- Identify the functions or services that can be separated into microservices: This involves breaking down a monolithic application into smaller, independent services that can be developed and deployed independently.
- Design the microservices architecture: This involves creating a high-level design of the microservices and how they will interact with each other and other systems.
- Develop the microservices: This involves writing the code for each microservice using a programming language and framework suitable for the specific service.
- Test the microservices: This involves testing each microservice individually and also testing how they work together as a system.
- Deploy the microservices: This involves deploying the microservices to a suitable runtime environment, such as a cloud platform or container orchestration system.
- Monitor and maintain the microservices: This involves monitoring the performance and availability of the microservices and performing maintenance and updates as needed.
What are different approach to Microservices Development?
Microservices can be built in various ways, depending on the needs and preferences of the development team. Some common approaches include:
- API-driven: This method involves breaking down monolithic applications into smaller, independent services that communicate with each other via APIs.
- Event-driven: This approach involves creating microservices that are triggered by events, such as user actions or changes in data.
- Data streaming: In this method, microservices are designed to process data streams in real-time, allowing for fast and efficient data processing.
- Containerization: This approach involves packaging microservices and their dependencies into containers, which can be easily deployed and scaled in different environments.
- Cloud deployment: Microservices can also be deployed in the cloud, allowing for easy scalability and accessibility from anywhere.
Regardless of the approach taken, it is important for development teams to carefully plan and design their microservices architecture to ensure that it meets the needs of the business and the end-users.
How Do You Monitor Microservices?
To monitor microservices, developers can use a variety of tools and methods, including the following:
- Application Performance Monitoring (APM) tools: These tools track the performance of individual microservices and provide insights into how they are functioning. They can identify issues such as latency, errors, and bottlenecks in the microservices architecture.
- Logging and tracing tools: These tools allow developers to track the flow of requests through the microservices architecture and identify any issues that may be occurring.
- Service Mesh: A service mesh is a layer of infrastructure that sits between the microservices and the network. It allows developers to monitor and control communication between the microservices, providing visibility into the interactions between them.
- Custom monitoring solutions: Developers can also build their own custom monitoring solutions using a combination of tools and methods that are specific to their microservices architecture. This can involve creating custom dashboards or using APIs to extract data from the microservices.
The Future of Microservices
Serverless Architecture
Serverless architecture is a way to build and run applications and services without having to worry about infrastructure. This means that developers can focus on writing code and building features without the need to manage servers or infrastructure. Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers a platform called Lambda which enables developers to utilize serverless architecture and run their microservices without having to worry about any infrastructure management.
PaaS
Platform as a Service (PaaS) is a cloud-based development platform that combines microservices with monitoring. This allows developers to deploy applications and manage the architecture in a centralized way, streamlining the process and improving efficiency. PaaS has the potential to further automate processes for development teams and enhance the effectiveness of microservices.
Multi-Cloud Environments
Microservices can be deployed in multiple cloud environments, which offers enhanced capabilities to development teams. For example, microservices related to database management may benefit from being deployed in Oracle’s cloud environment, while other microservices may use Amazon S3 for additional storage and archiving. This approach also allows for the integration of AI-based features and analytics from Azure across the application.
What Are the Benefits of Microservices? Why Do They Exist Today?
- Microservices are a type of software architecture that structures applications as a collection of small, independent services that work together.
- One of the main benefits of microservices is improved scalability, as developers can expand apps based on user demand without affecting other microservices.
- The microservices approach also allows for faster development, as teams can focus on one microservice without worrying about the rest of the app. This can lead to quicker time-to-market for products.
- Microservices can improve performance, as teams are responsible for specific services rather than the entire app. This also leads to better accountability, compliance, and data security.
- Microservices allow developers to become “language and technology agnostic,” as different team members can use different programming languages and technologies when coding and debugging.
- Monitoring microservices helps to identify potential problems and track service and performance levels.
- Cloud-based platforms like AWS and Azure make it easier to manage microservices.
- Microservices are typically packaged and deployed in Docker containers.
- The microservices architecture relies on the cloud, and developers can track changes to app infrastructure from anywhere in the world.
- Microservices are useful for developers in various sectors, including e-commerce, where retailers can use separate services for tasks such as billing without affecting other functions.
Summary
Microservices offer many benefits for software development teams, such as improved scalability, faster development cycles, enhanced data security, better data governance, and the ability to use a variety of programming languages and technologies. In this approach, each microservice is a separate unit that performs a specific function and can communicate with other microservices via APIs, but remains independent. This allows teams to work on specific services without affecting the overall workflow of the application. The use of microservices has become increasingly popular in recent years. Monitoring microservices also helps teams to identify and solve problems quickly and track key performance indicators. Cloud-based platforms like AWS and Azure make it easier for developers to manage microservices and deploy them in various environments, including private and hybrid clouds.
As a top provider of microservices development services, Ways and Means Technology Private Limited specialize in creating, testing, and deploying microservices-based applications for a variety of platforms, including mobile, cloud, and IoT. Our team of experienced microservices developers is skilled in using REST/SOAP, web apps, java microservices framework, Dockers, and Kubernetes to build solutions that meet clients’ specific business needs and maximize ROI. Our process follows the DevOps methodology to ensure successful and efficient delivery of microservices projects.
