Monolithic vs Microservices: Comparing Architectures, Pros & Cons

What is Monolithic Architecture?

Monolithic architecture benefits from fast development because of applications based on one code base. You can also say that the entire application is built on a single unified unit.

In this model, all components (user interface, business logic, and data access) are tightly coupled and run as a single service or executable. It’s commonly used in applications where the entire codebase is deployed and scaled together.

Let’s simplify this using real-life examples.

It’s like a giant building where everything you need (kitchen, living room, bedroom) is in one big space. You don’t have separate rooms or floors for different activities; everything is combined into one big area.

Pros of Monolithic Architecture

• Easy debugging: With all code located in one place, it’s easier to follow a request and find an issue.

• Deployment: All web application components (frontend, backend & database) are deployed together.

• Shared resources: This architecture shares resources as they are entangled and combined in a single code base.

Cons of Monolithic Architecture

• Hard to scale: Scaling the whole application to meet higher demand can be inefficient because you can’t scale individual parts of the app separately. Whenever a single module is updated, the entire system is updated to reflect changes to the user. It often requires duplicating applications, leading to inefficiencies and higher costs in the custom software development approach.

• Bug Fixing: Every module is combined in single system, if there is an error or bug in single module, it can destroy the entire system.

• Deployment: A small change to a monolithic application requires the re-deployment of the entire application.

• Slower Development: Maintaining and scaling the application can become challenging as the system grows, leading to slower development cycles. This can limit the flexibility that clients often seek in bespoke software development.

To overcome the disadvantages of monolithic architecture, microservices architecture is in the frame.

What is Microservices Architecture?

Microservices is an architecture style where an application is built as a collection of small, independent services. Custom software development companies often use microservices architecture to build scalable and maintainable systems.

The company can break the application into more minor, independent services, each handling a specific function. Each service can be individually deployed and updated with an independent code base and repository. These services communicate with each other via APIs.

Pros of Microservices Architecture

• Independent services: Each microservice is a separate, standalone component that can be developed, deployed, and scaled independently of the others.

• Single responsibility: Each service focuses on doing one thing well, such as handling payments or managing user profiles.

• Scalability: You can scale individual services based on demand without affecting other services.

• Different technologies: Microservices allow developers to use other programming languages, databases, and tools for other services, depending on what fits or what’s best.

Cons of Microservices Architecture

• Development: Complex to develop services are independent; you must deal with extra things like managing communication between services, data sharing, and versioning APIs.

• Costly: Running multiple microservices often requires more infrastructure resources, like servers, databases, and network management. Since each service may need to be deployed separately, costs can increase.

• Team coordination: Development and DevOps teams need to work closely to ensure the services function well together, which can require more specialized skills and resources.

When Netflix started as a DVD rental service, it had a more straightforward system that was easier to manage as a monolithic architecture. Everything, from user interfaces to backend services, was tightly coupled and ran as a single application. But later transitioned to a microservices architecture as it grew.

Conclusion

• Monolithic is ideal for smaller projects with lower complexity.
• Microservices are better suited for more extensive evolving applications that require flexibility, scalability, and independent development. However, it comes with operational overhead and requires more advanced development and DevOps practices.