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In the ever-evolving software development landscape, choosing the right architecture is like laying the foundation for a building. The architecture dictates how the software is structured, impacting its scalability, maintainability, and overall success. Traditional monolithic architecture and microservices have long been the dominant paradigms, each with advantages and challenges.However, a new architectural style has been gaining traction—Modular Monoliths. This approach aims to offer the best of both worlds by combining the simplicity of monoliths with the flexibility of microservices. It serves as a middle ground that addresses some of the complexities associated with microservices, making it particularly appealing for small to medium-sized projects or teams transitioning from a traditional monolithic architecture.
I wrote an article about this in 2017 entitled Microservices Aggregation. I recently read the name Modular Monolith and loved it better. This architectural style is gaining traction, yet it is not entirely new. The Modular Monolith style is a way to modularize and organize an application, lowering our chances of creating a big ball of mud.
This chapter aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of Modular Monoliths. We delve into its core principles, advantages, and key components and explore when and how to implement this architecture. We build upon our nano e-commerce application to get hands-on insights into Modular Monoliths’ practical applications. Additionally, we discuss how they compare with other architectural styles to help you make informed decisions for your next projects.By the end of this chapter, you should have a solid grasp of Modular Monoliths, why they might be the right choice for your project, and how to implement them.In this chapter, we cover the following topics:
- What is a Modular Monolith?
- Advantages of Modular Monoliths
- Key Components of a Modular Monolith
- Implementing a Modular Monolith
- Project—Modular Monolith
- Transitioning to Microservices
- Challenges and Pitfalls
Let’s start by exploring what is a Modular Monolith.
What is a Modular Monolith?
A Modular Monolith is an architectural style that aims to combine the best aspects of traditional monolithic architectures and microservices. It organizes the software application into well-defined, loosely coupled modules. Each is responsible for a specific business capability. However, unlike microservices, all these modules are deployed as a single unit like a monolith.The core principles of a Modular Monolith are:
- Treat each module as a microservice.
- Deploy the application as a single unit.
Here are the fundamental principles of a successful microservice as studied in Chapter 19, Introduction to Microservices Architecture:
- Each microservice should be a cohesive unit of business.
- Each microservice should own its data.
- Each microservice should be independent of the others.
In a nutshell, we get the best of both worlds. Yet, understanding how a Modular Monolith compares with other architectural styles is crucial for making informed decisions.
