Enterprise Software
dataliquid GmbH
Neuer Wall 50
D-20354 Hamburg

Microservices refer to a specific type of software architecture. The individual services of the respective software system each perform a small task and operate independently of one another. The end result is that the overall software is modular rather than monolithic. The use of microservices is a proven approach – many well-known online services successfully employ microservices.

Benefits of Modularization

What advantages do microservices offer over monolithic software architecture?

  • Deployment: Each microservice can be deployed and modified individually without affecting the other units.

  • Programming: Monolithic software must be written entirely in one programming language. Not so with microservices. Each part of an application can theoretically be implemented in a different programming language and on a different platform.

  • Robustness: Depending on the programming, the application can survive the failure of individual microservices. Even if one unit heavily utilizes the CPU, it only affects that service, not the others.

  • Manageability: Since microservices typically consist of only 10 to 100 lines of code, they remain manageable and can be easily developed further.

  • Stability: In monolithic systems, dependencies tend to creep in over time, destroying the originally planned architecture. Dependencies between microservices, on the other hand, must be consciously established via APIs, meaning they are the result of a deliberate decision.

  • Scalability: Just because one part of an application requires more resources doesn’t mean all parts do. In monolithic software architecture, the scaling of individual units is inseparable – but not with microservices.

  • Resource Utilization: When key units have been defined in microservices, the software can handle overloads without issue. In such cases, non-critical units are simply shut down, freeing up resources for essential services.

Motivation for Using Microservices

Even though the aforementioned advantages clearly show that microservices are beneficial for developing new software, one question remains: What motivates online platforms to transition from monolithic architecture to microservices?

A major factor is that continuous delivery is much easier to implement with microservices due to their small size. Additionally, this form of architecture simplifies the maintenance of developed systems. This is particularly advantageous in product-oriented development, making our offered long-term support more manageable. Thanks to microservices, further development of the system is possible without issues.

Another good reason for using microservices is that development teams are not limited to one programming language. Instead, they can choose the language that best suits each service. This also makes it easier to experiment with new technologies and prevents the software from becoming outdated. This is especially important for enterprise software, which is expected to be in use for a long time. Depending on the need, the microservices in these legacy systems can be renewed or new units can be added without triggering complicated changes to the other components.

Are Microservices of Interest to You?

We would be happy to schedule a meeting for one of our workshops on this topic or provide a free initial consultation. In this consultation, we will evaluate the status of your existing software and assess how you can best benefit from microservices.

Nach oben