Monolithic vs Microservices Architecture | Which should You use? | Edureka

Summary

In this video, Daman from Eda explains the key differences between monolithic and microservices architectures. He provides a detailed comparison of the two, covering aspects such as deployment, scalability, reliability, development, and debugging. Monolithic architecture is a unified, self-contained structure ideal for small projects but becomes difficult to scale and maintain as they grow. On the other hand, microservices break applications into smaller, independent services that enhance flexibility, scalability, and deployment speed, though they introduce more complexity. The video also highlights real-world examples like Netflix and Atlassian, showcasing their successful migration from monolithic to microservices.

Takeaways

• 😀 A monolithic architecture is a single unified software unit, while microservices consist of independent, deployable services.
• 😀 Monolithic applications can be easier to manage initially, but they become restrictive and time-consuming to update as they grow.
• 😀 Microservices allow for smaller, independently deployable services, which can be updated, tested, and scaled independently.
• 😀 Monolithic architecture is tightly coupled, meaning that changing one component often requires updating the entire application.
• 😀 Microservices are loosely coupled, allowing each service to function independently while working together to support the overall system.
• 😀 A monolithic approach can be beneficial for small projects, but as the project grows, microservices provide more flexibility and scalability.
• 😀 Companies like Netflix and Atlassian have migrated from monolithic to microservices to address scaling issues and support rapid growth.
• 😀 Microservices architecture is often paired with DevOps practices, enabling continuous delivery and frequent updates.
• 😀 Microservices allow for greater reliability since failure in one service does not affect the entire application, unlike in monolithic systems.
• 😀 In a monolithic architecture, debugging is simpler because all code is located in one place, while microservices require debugging across multiple services.
• 😀 Microservices architecture is more flexible in terms of technology choices, allowing teams to select tools best suited for each service.

Q & A

What is the main difference between monolithic architecture and microservices?

The main difference is that monolithic architecture is a single unified unit, while microservices architecture consists of smaller, independently deployable services that work together to form a complete application.

Why is monolithic architecture easier to manage initially in a project's lifecycle?

Monolithic architecture is easier to manage early on because it has a single codebase, which simplifies code management, deployment, and testing, especially for smaller projects.

What are the challenges of maintaining a monolithic architecture as a project grows?

As a project grows, monolithic architecture can become difficult to maintain due to tight coupling of components. Updating one component often requires changes to other parts of the application, making updates time-consuming and complex.

How does microservices architecture improve scalability compared to monolithic architecture?

Microservices improve scalability by allowing individual services to be scaled independently. When a service reaches its load capacity, new instances of that service can be deployed to handle the increased demand, unlike monolithic systems that require scaling the entire application.

What is a key advantage of microservices in terms of reliability?

In microservices architecture, if one service fails, it doesn't bring down the entire application. Each service operates independently, so failures are isolated, leading to greater reliability compared to monolithic systems.

Why can microservices be more complex to develop than monolithic applications?

Microservices are more complex to develop because they involve managing multiple independent services that might be created by different teams, which increases the overall complexity of coordination, communication, and development.

How does the flexibility of microservices benefit development teams?

Microservices offer greater flexibility because each service can be developed using different technologies and tools, allowing teams to choose the best solution for each individual service, unlike monolithic systems where the technology stack is fixed.

How does debugging differ between monolithic and microservices architectures?

In monolithic architecture, debugging is easier because all the code is in one place, making it easier to trace requests and find issues. In microservices, each service has its own set of logs, which makes debugging more complicated and requires checking multiple places.

Can you give an example of a company that successfully migrated from monolithic to microservices?

Netflix is one of the most well-known examples of a company that migrated from a monolithic to a microservices architecture. They faced growing infrastructure challenges and switched to microservices to scale more efficiently and support their cloud-based services.

What are the main benefits of microservices in terms of deployment?

Microservices allow for the independent deployment of services, meaning that individual features or components can be updated and deployed without affecting the entire application. This leads to faster, more efficient deployment processes compared to monolithic applications.