Monolithic, N-Tier, Microservices explained with comparison and example - Software Architecture

Summary

This video delves into three key software architectures—Monolithic, Tiered (N-Tier), and Microservices—using a Calorie Counter App as an example. It explores how each architecture differs in terms of scalability, fault tolerance, network latency, and resource management. Monolithic suits small, simple applications, Tiered is ideal for enterprise systems, and Microservices are perfect for large, complex, scalable applications. The video compares the strengths and weaknesses of each approach, helping viewers understand when to use each based on project size and requirements.

Takeaways

• 😀 Monolithic architecture involves a single code base for the entire application, which includes UI, middleware, and database interactions.
• 😀 Entire (tiered) architecture separates different layers of the application, like UI, middleware, and database, allowing for more modular development.
• 😀 Microservices architecture breaks down the application into independent services based on business domains, each with its own code base and deployable unit.
• 😀 In monolithic architecture, all components are bundled into one deployable unit, making it simple but challenging to scale specific parts of the system.
• 😀 Microservices allow for independent scaling and deployment of individual services, optimizing resource usage and enabling flexibility in tech stack choices.
• 😀 The API Gateway is essential in microservices architecture to manage communication between the UI and various microservices, preventing breaking changes in the UI during service updates.
• 😀 Monolithic applications have minimal network latency because all components run on the same machine, whereas microservices introduce higher network latency due to multiple independent services.
• 😀 Microservices provide better separation of concerns, with each service managing a distinct part of the business logic and data, leading to easier maintenance and scalability.
• 😀 Monolithic and tiered architectures struggle with fault tolerance because a failure in any component brings down the entire system, unlike microservices where individual services can fail without impacting the whole system.
• 😀 Choosing the right architecture depends on application complexity: monolithic is best for small, simple applications, while microservices are ideal for complex, scalable enterprise applications.

Q & A

What are the three major types of software architecture discussed in the video?

The three major types of software architecture discussed are Monolithic Architecture, Entire Architecture, and Microservices Architecture.

How does Monolithic Architecture work?

In Monolithic Architecture, all components like the UI, middleware, and databases are bundled into a single codebase and deployed as one artifact (e.g., a WAR file). It is a single deployable unit running on an application server like Tomcat.

What is the key difference between Monolithic and Entire Architecture?

The key difference is that in Entire Architecture, each layer (UI, middleware, and databases) has a separate codebase and independent deployment artifacts, whereas in Monolithic Architecture, everything is in a single codebase and deployed as one unit.

What is a major advantage of Microservices Architecture over Monolithic and Entire Architecture?

Microservices Architecture allows independent deployment and scaling of each service based on the business domain, enabling optimized resource utilization and fault tolerance. It also supports different tech stacks for different services.

What role does the API Gateway play in Microservices Architecture?

The API Gateway acts as an abstraction layer that sits between the user interface and the microservices. It simplifies communication, enabling the UI to call the gateway instead of directly calling individual microservices. It also helps with security, monitoring, and fault tolerance.

What challenges are associated with the Monolithic Architecture in terms of scalability?

Monolithic Architecture can be difficult to scale optimally because you need to scale the entire application (UI, middleware, and database) together, even if only one part requires more resources. This can lead to inefficient resource usage.

Why is Microservices Architecture more flexible in terms of scalability?

Microservices Architecture is more flexible because each service is independently deployable and scalable. You can scale each service based on its own demand, optimizing resource allocation for each part of the system.

What is the primary concern with Monolithic Architecture when dealing with complex code changes?

In Monolithic Architecture, all components are tightly integrated within a single codebase, making it difficult to implement changes without potentially affecting other parts of the application. This is especially problematic as the application grows in complexity.

How does Entire Architecture handle the separation of concerns differently from Monolithic Architecture?

Entire Architecture ensures better separation of concerns by having distinct codebases for each layer (UI, middleware, and database). This allows different teams to work independently on different layers, unlike Monolithic Architecture, where all teams work on the same codebase.

When should you choose Monolithic Architecture over other architectures?

Monolithic Architecture is ideal for small, simple applications where the complexity is low and unlikely to grow significantly over time. It is cost-effective and highly performant, with no network latency between components.