The Things No One is Telling You About Microservices

DateMay 29, 2024

In the video, Dave Farley delves into the topic of microservices, addressing widespread misconceptions about what constitutes a genuine microservice architecture. Farley stresses the importance of precise definitions and a common language to mitigate confusion and advance industry practices. He refers to a widely accepted definition of microservices as small, focused on a single task, aligned with a bounded context, autonomous, independently deployable, and loosely coupled.

Farley identifies the core attribute of microservices as their independent deployability. This characteristic facilitates the organization of development teams into small, autonomous units, ultimately boosting productivity and enhancing software quality. He critiques prevalent practices where supposed microservices share a common database, arguing that such setups undermine the autonomy necessary for true microservices, leading to increased coupling and complexity.

The video further explores practical approaches to correctly implementing microservices. Farley advises against direct data normalization and advocates for system decoupling through confined contexts. He emphasizes the importance of sharing information via well-defined APIs rather than shared databases to maintain service autonomy and reduce interdependencies.

Farley concludes by depicting an ideal communication model within a microservices architecture. This model preserves service autonomy and aligns closely with business needs rather than being driven by technical considerations. The emphasis is on maintaining loose coupling and ensuring that each service remains focused on its specific context, thereby supporting a more agile and resilient development environment.

Channel Sponsors

Equal Experts is a product software development consultancy boasting a global network of over 1,000 seasoned technology consultants. They accelerate innovation by employing modern software engineering practices that incorporate Continuous Delivery, Security, and Operability from the outset.

TransFICC offers low-latency connectivity, automated trading workflows, and e-trading systems for Fixed Income and Derivatives. They address market fragmentation by providing banks and asset managers with a unified, low-latency, robust, and scalable API, which connects to multiple trading venues and supports various complex workflows across asset classes like Rates and Credit Bonds, Repos, Mortgage-Backed Securities, and Interest Rate Swaps.

Leave a Reply