Architectur pattern

Here are a few architectural patterns/procedures that can be quite useful.

Monolith

A monolith in software architecture refers to a single, unified application where all components are integrated into one codebase and deployed as a single unit.

Characteristics of a Monolithic Architecture

• Single Codebase – The entire application is developed, built, and deployed as a single entity.
• Tightly Coupled Components – All modules interact directly within the same system.
• Single Deployment Unit – Any update or change requires redeploying the entire application.
• Shared Database – Usually, a monolithic app has one central database handling all operations.

Easier Development (Initially) – Since everything is in one place, it's easier to set up and develop at the beginning.

Pros of Monolithic Architecture

• Simplicity – Easier to develop, test, and debug in the early stages.
• Easier tracing and transaction handling
• Performance – No network latency between components since everything is internal.
• Easier Deployment – Single package or binary to deploy.
• Better for Small Teams – Less complexity in managing multiple services.

Cons of Monolithic Architecture

• Scalability Issues – Hard to scale specific parts of the application independently.
• Tight Coupling – Difficult to modify or update one part without affecting the whole system.
• Technology Lock-in – Harder to adopt new technologies for specific components without refactoring the entire system.

Microservices

Microservices is a software architecture pattern where an application is broken down into small, independent services that communicate with each other via APIs (often REST or gRPC). Each microservice is responsible for a specific business function and can be developed, deployed, and scaled independently.

Key Characteristics of Microservices

• Independent Services – Each service has its own logic, database, and lifecycle.
• Decentralized Data Management – Unlike monoliths, microservices often have separate databases to prevent tight coupling.
• Scalability – You can scale specific services instead of the whole application.
• Technology Flexibility – Different services can be built using different programming languages and frameworks.
• API Communication – Services communicate using lightweight protocols like REST, gRPC, or message queues (Kafka, RabbitMQ, etc.)
• Fault Isolation – A failure in one service doesn’t necessarily bring down the whole system.

Pros of Microservices Architecture

• Scalability – Scale only the services that need more resources.
• Technology Freedom – Each service can use the best technology for its needs.
• Resilience – If one service fails, others continue running.
• Easier Maintenance & Updates – Update services without redeploying the whole app.

Cons of Microservices Architecture

• Increased Complexity – Managing multiple services, databases, and APIs is challenging.
• Higher Latency – Services communicate over the network, introducing delays.
• More Difficult Debugging – Tracking down issues across services requires distributed logging and monitoring.
• Deployment Overhead – Requires DevOps expertise (e.g., Kubernetes, Docker, CI/CD pipelines).
• Data Consistency Issues – Handling transactions across multiple databases can be complex.
• More complex transaction handling
• Code duplication: Lesser code reuse
• Cost: More services -> more resource consumption

Modular Monolith

A modular monolith is a software architecture style that combines the simplicity of a monolith with the modularity of microservices. It is a single deployable application but is structured into well-defined, independent modules that communicate internally rather than through external APIs.

Key Characteristics of a Modular Monolith

• Single Deployment Unit – The entire application is deployed as a single package (like a monolith).
• Internal Modularity – The codebase is divided into independent modules with clear boundaries.
• Encapsulation – Each module has its own business logic and should not depend on the internals of other modules.
• Strict Module Communication – Modules interact via well-defined interfaces (e.g., function calls or event-based messaging).
• Centralized Database (Usually) – Unlike microservices, a modular monolith may use a shared database but with separate schemas for each module.

Pros of Modular Monolith

• Easier Development – No need for complex microservices infrastructure (e.g., Kubernetes, service discovery, API gateways).
• Better Maintainability – Code is organized into modules, making it easier to modify without affecting the entire app.
• Lower Complexity – Compared to microservices, there’s no network overhead, inter-service latency, or distributed system issues.
• Easier Transition to Microservices – If needed, individual modules can be extracted as microservices later.
• Better Performance – No inter-service communication overhead (as seen in microservices).
• Easier onboarding for new developers

Cons of Modular Monolith

• Single Deployment – A change in one module still requires redeploying the entire application.
• Scaling Limitations – While modular, it still does not support independent scaling like microservices.
• Risk of Module Coupling – Without discipline, modules can become tightly coupled, making future extraction harder.