Monolithic Vs Microservices: Choosing The Best App Architecture

Monolithic Vs Microservices: Choosing The Best App Architecture 

Having come into the limelight just a few years ago, microservices are the most sought-after trend these days. The approach indeed offers tangible advantages such as increased agility, flexibility, and scalability amongst other significant benefits. Google, Amazon, Netflix, and other tech giants have successfully migrated from monolithic to microservices architecture. Moreover, many enterprises consider implementing it for efficiency and business growth. 

On the other hand, monolithic architecture is a default model for building software or for mobile app development solutions. It is considered a traditional way for developing applications as an indivisible and single unit. The structure lends itself to smaller teams and furnishes related benefits such as less operational overhead and focus. Monolith essentially has a single database, front-end user interface, and a server-side application. All functions are served and managed in one single place, leading to significant benefits.


Monolithic Architecture Advantages

A monolithic application is seemingly easy to develop, test, and deploy. With everything going through the same approach and app, cross-cutting issues such as handling, logging, security, and caching are easily addressed because space, resources, and memories are shared. The monolithic architecture also presents performance advantages since shared-memory access is faster as compared to ICP (inter-process communication) for example. Here are some of the advantages of using a monolithic architecture:
 

• Easy to build
• Fast to deploy
• Reusable Components

Monolithic Architecture Weaknesses
 

• Hard to scale
• Difficult to add features
• Module dependencies lead to a more complex app architecture
• Inefficient testing
• Lack of agility

Microservices Architecture Advantages

A microservices architecture approach encapsulates each enterprise capability into individual services and components. Every process of app development functions as a loosely coupled and separate service with its own database and logic. Testing, Updating, scaling, and deployment happens within the scope of individual service. Depending on the requirements, the same service can be utilized for several business processes and over a plethora of touchpoints and channels. By standardizing on business-oriented APIs and contracts, users can not really see the changes made in the backend. Here are some of the advantages of using a microservices architecture:
 

• Better scalability and agility
• Easier to understand and deploy
• Minimum management
• Independent components
• Seamless testing
• Flexibility in selecting the technology

Also Read: Hybrid Cloud Management: Things You Need To Know
Microservices Architecture Weaknesses
 

• Long preparations
• Resource consuming
• Cross-cutting concerns
• Higher associated costs

Microservices Vs Monolithic Architecture: Which One To Choose?

Microservices or monolithic architecture represents two separate ways to organize service and components. Each approach has its own advantages and weaknesses. 

Monolithic applications are easier and faster to develop. But on the other hand, they are relatively harder to scale. Their architecture can often turn into a complex model of dependencies.

Microservices are valid for large-scale applications with multiple business logic and advanced technological capabilities such as AI-based machine learning. However, such projects need more effort to manage workloads and more time to develop.

Depending on the scalability, agility time, budget, and size of the business applications, you can either go for monolithic architecture (for lightweight apps) or microservices architecture (for enterprise-grade apps).

We also suggest considering the architecture type and its model, components, and security individually. Our team of seasoned Mobile app developers and SaaS development experts base the selection depending on several other aspects such as:
 

• Project type
• Business goals
• Project roadmap
• Deadline
• Resources

 
Therefore, it won’t be justified to say that microservices or monolithic approaches will be beneficial for a certain business service. It all narrows down to needs, features, and budget.

One Approach May Not Fit All Business Requirements

As a service model, microservices architecture is becoming more and more popular for SaaS application development services. However, considering your own business context that is evaluated against the aforementioned pros and cons, it becomes fair to decide if you should commence with monolithic or microservices application development. For a small app, a monolithic model significantly suits better. For evolving & complex apps with clear domains, the microservices model will prove to be a much better choice. 

The concluding point and the main takeaway? Do not focus completely on the architectural approach but rather, base your decisions on the specific requirements of your organization. That will immensely assist you in clarifying and cutting down on any unnecessary & unwanted complexity so you can lead the route as a successful technical decision-maker. 

Want to know more about monolithic or microservices app development? Feel free to get in touch with our experts.