The Architecture Decision
Choosing between microservices and monolithic architecture is one of the most important decisions in software development.
Monolithic Architecture
A monolith is a single, unified codebase where all components are interconnected.
Advantages
- Simple to develop initially
- Easy to deploy
- Lower operational complexity
- Better for small teams
Disadvantages
- Harder to scale specific components
- Technology lock-in
- Deployment affects entire system
Microservices Architecture
Microservices break the application into small, independent services.
Advantages
- Independent scaling
- Technology flexibility
- Isolated failures
- Team autonomy
Disadvantages
- Increased complexity
- Network latency
- Data consistency challenges
- DevOps overhead
When to Choose What
Choose Monolith When:
- Starting a new project
- Small team (< 10 developers)
- Simple domain
- Rapid prototyping needed
Choose Microservices When:
- Large, complex domain
- Multiple teams
- Need independent scaling
- Different tech stacks required
Conclusion
Start with a well-structured monolith. Migrate to microservices when you have clear boundaries and scaling needs.
