Is Microservices The Delusion of Complexity?
[Easy Read] When not to use micro-services by Atlassian
TLDR;
Microservices are hot and modern, but usually just meaningless complexity. Avoid the hype and stick to good ol' monoliths when:
Your app is small and simple
Your team is short-staffed
Your roadmap is still fuzzy
It feels like overengineering
Atlassian kept things monolithic until 2018 when their scale demands finally warranted microservices. Being pragmatic > being trendy.
Introduction
Microservices offer flexibility, but they're not always the best choice. Let's explore situations where sticking with a monolithic approach might be wiser.
When not to use Microservices
Alright, let's get real about microservices for a minute. Sure, they're the hot shit that all the cool kids are yelling about these days. Scalable, flexible, cloud-native - check all the modern buzzword boxes. But let's be honest, in most cases, microservices are just meaningless complexity for complexity's sake.
At the end of the day, microservices are still just another architectural pattern. A very complicated, overengineered pattern that devs love but a pattern nonetheless. They don't actually understand the problems they're trying to solve any better than a good ol' monolithic design.
Technical challenges:
Dealing with transactions across services can be tough.
Testing and fixing bugs in a microservices setup can be tricky.
Keeping track of everything can be hard.
Organizational considerations:
Small teams may struggle with the communication and coordination required for microservices.
On-premise deployments might not work well with microservices when it comes to managing and scaling individual services.
If not everyone is on board, microservices might not be the right choice, as it can lead to challenges with adoption, consistency, and long-term maintenance.
Closing Thoughts
Microservices aren't always the answer. In my experience, their distributed complexities can be overkill for simpler projects and domains. I've seen cases where a monolith was a more pragmatic choice due to blurred service boundaries and minimal cross-cutting concerns.
That said, microservices require significant investment that not every organization is prepared for. Without proper automation, monitoring, and cultural alignment in place, I've witnessed teams struggle mightily to reap the benefits.
The key is to weigh your options carefully based on your project's needs and team's capabilities. As an architect, I emphasize that paradigms like microservices and monoliths are tools - not dogma. The right tool for your context will help you build better software faster.
Speaking from experience, don't blindly jump on trends. I've had projects where a monolith was the most fitting choice given the constraints. Have the self-awareness to make the appropriate call for your unique situation. One-size doesn't fit all in software architecture.