Microservices vs. Monolithic Architecture: Which is Best for Custom Software

The right architecture defines the success of all software development projects. Two approaches primarily dominate modern software app development. They are the Monolithic and the Microservices architectures. Each, with its own set of advantages and disadvantages, has its uses in building different types of custom software.

Let us explore both architectures individually and then compare them on critical features to ascertain which to choose for custom software development.

What Is Monolithic Architecture?

Traditionally, custom software was developed using the Monolithic architecture. Here, developers would build a single codebase. That contained all the software-related logic, a server-side application, user interface, databases, and workflows. They were all coupled together and bundled to form a single unit.

Advantages of monolithic architecture

• Easy to develop, scale, test and deploy
• Reduced time-to-market
• Fast inter-module application
• Modules can be internally optimized
• Allows for separate backend and frontend teams
• Debugging is simpler as bugs are all stored in one place making it easy to identify

Disadvantages include

• Scalability is a challenge as everything is tightly coupled
• Only allows vertical scaling which is time-consuming and expensive
• Difficult to adopt new technologies
• Even the minutest changes require redeployment of entire application
• Debugging becomes difficult as the application grows
• Large monolithic codebases are complex
• Does not adhere to standards, guidelines or principles creating knowledge gap

Use cases of monolithic architecture

While the process might seem traditional, it is still widely used in modern software development. Most small and medium projects requiring limited scalability are built using the monolithic architecture. It is also a good option for quick prototyping. Its simplicity makes the development and deployment process easier. This increases its utility for startups looking for cost-effective custom software development within a short time.

What Is The Microservices Architecture?

This architectural approach is radically different from the monolithic architecture. The microservices software architecture is developed as a collection of separate independent processes. Each of these is responsible for a specific functionality. These processes communicate and connect using APIs.

The microservices architecture is based on the DevOps methodology. Hence, they support agility and allow software development teams to work simultaneously on multiple services. This quickens the development cycle through innovation and iteration.

Advantages of the microservices architecture

• Higher agility and scalability
• Better fault insolation enhances app resilience
• If one one microservice fails, it does not impact the others
• Different services can be built using different tech stacks
• Resource allocation and utilization is much better
• Ease of continuous deployment
• Easy to maintain

Disadvantages of microservices architecture

• Managing multiple services has complexities attached
• Inter-service communication costs are higher because of duplication of service functionalities
• Network latency can complicate transaction management
• Distributed architecture can give rise to data integrity issues
• Cost of building applications is relatively high

Use cases of microservices architecture

The microservices architecture is used for custom software development across multiple industries, including ecommerce to banks and insurance companies, healthcare, education, etc. All complex applications leverage the microservices architecture because of its interoperability. Its ability to connect disparate systems facilitates seamless coordination and data exchange.

Monolithic Vs. Microservices Architecture: What To Expect

While both are extensively used in custom software development, their design patterns show stark differences. 

Architecture structure

Structurally, monolithic architecture has a unified structure, while microservices architecture has a more modular structure and is essentially a collection of services.

Scalability 

The tightly coupled modules of a monolithic architecture make it difficult to scale. It is also not very flexible. Alternatively, the distributed nature of the microservices architecture makes it easy to scale.

Deployment 

Monolithic architecture is relatively easy to deploy, but its management becomes increasingly complex as the application grows. A custom software development company prefers the microservices architecture because here individual microservices can be individually deployed.

Technology diversity

Monolithic architecture is generally compatible with legacy frameworks, programming languages and databases, while the microservices architecture is more in sync with modern and upcoming technologies.

Expenses involved

Development of monolithic apps is simple as long as the application is small and manageable. Complex monolithic applications can be extremely difficult to handle and manage. The additional maintenance cost of the microservices architecture makes it a costly alternative for custom software development. However, the ROI is much higher.

Impact of modifications

The entire monolithic application must be halted to make even the smallest modifications. Further, the ripple effects of bugs are not limited to a service. They are experienced across applications. However, in microservices applications, each service can be modified and updated individually without impacting the other services of the application.

Fault tolerance

Resource utilization

Monolithic architecture is simple, and apps are built using limited technologies. Hence, their resource utilization is also low. Alternatively, apps built using the microservices architecture show relatively higher resource utilization. However, the microservices architecture manages resources much better.

Monolithic Software Architecture Vs Microservices Software Architecture: Which To Choose

• Nature of the application being built
• Designated budget
• Need for scalability
• Technology requirements
• Functionalities to be integrated
• Complexities involved

Conclusion

The microservices vs. monolithic architecture debate is difficult to settle with a simple answer. The choice depends on the project requirements and cost. Hence, to ensure the right architecture choice it is best to leverage the technical know-how and expertise of a professional software application development company.