In the world of web development, trends change quickly. A few years ago, everyone was talking about microservices. They were the new and exciting way to build software. Big companies like Netflix, Amazon, and Uber talked about how microservices helped them move faster, scale better, and improve teamwork. Because of this, many teams wanted to do the same.
Today, something surprising is happening. Some teams are moving away from microservices and going back to building monoliths. This may sound strange, especially if you are learning about microservices in full stack java developer training, but there are good reasons behind this shift.
In this blog, we’ll explain what monoliths and microservices are, why microservices became popular, and why many developers are now returning to monoliths.
What is a Monolith?
A monolith is a single application where everything is built and deployed together. All features, functions, and services are part of one big project. If you want to make a change, you edit the code in one place.
For example, if you’re building an e-commerce site:
- The login system
- The shopping cart
- The product listings
- The checkout process
All of these would be inside one project. You build it, test it, and deploy it all together.
What are Microservices?
Microservices break the application into smaller parts. Each service does one job and runs on its own. These services talk to each other using APIs. For example:
- One service handles user login
- Another manages products
- Another takes care of payments
Each team can work on their own service without affecting the others. They can also use different programming languages or databases if they want.
Why Microservices Became Popular
Microservices became a big trend because they solve some real problems, especially in large teams and big companies.
1. Faster Development
Each team can build, test, and release their own service without waiting for others. This speeds up development.
2. Better Scalability
If your login system gets a lot of traffic, you can scale only that part instead of the whole app.
3. Fault Isolation
If one service fails, the rest of the app can keep working. This improves reliability.
4. Easier to Try New Technologies
Different teams can use the tools that fit their service best, without needing to agree on one language or framework.
These benefits sound great and they are but they come with a cost.
The Hidden Problems with Microservices
Microservices are powerful, but they are also complex. Here are some common problems teams face:
1. Too Many Moving Parts
With dozens or even hundreds of services, things can get messy. You need to manage how they talk to each other, keep them secure, and monitor them. This takes time and skill.
2. Harder Debugging
If something breaks, finding the problem can be difficult. You have to check logs from many services and track how data moved between them.
3. DevOps Overload
Each microservice needs its own build, test, and deployment pipeline. This means more work for DevOps teams and more chances for mistakes.
4. Versioning and Compatibility
When services talk to each other, their APIs must match. If one team changes something, it can break other services.
5. Slower for Small Teams
If your team is small, microservices may slow you down. You’ll spend more time managing systems than building features.
Because of these challenges, many teams especially small and medium-sized ones are choosing to return to monolithic architectures.
Why the Monolith is Making a Comeback
Now let’s look at why monoliths are becoming popular again.
1. Simpler to Build
A monolith is easier to build and understand. There is one codebase, one deployment process, and fewer things to manage.
2. Easier to Debug
If something goes wrong, you can see everything in one place. You don’t have to jump between multiple systems to find the bug.
3. Faster Development for Small Teams
Small teams can move quickly with a monolith. They can concentrate on building features instead of setting up complex systems.
4. Cheaper to Run
Microservices need more servers, more tools, and more engineers. Monoliths are often cheaper and easier to host.
5. Easier Testing
Testing a monolith is more straightforward. You don’t have to worry about network issues or broken connections between services.
Real-World Examples
Here are a few stories of companies that moved back to monoliths:
1. Segment
Segment, a data platform company, started with microservices but switched back to a monolith. They found that microservices made their system hard to understand and slowed down development.
2. Basecamp
Basecamp has always used a monolithic architecture. They believe in keeping things simple and believe monoliths help them stay fast and focused.
3. Shopify
Shopify uses a mix of monoliths and microservices. Their main app is a large monolith that handles most of the work. They add microservices only when needed.
These stories show that monoliths can work well, even at scale, if designed carefully.
When Should You Use a Monolith?
You should consider using a monolith if:
- Your team is small or medium-sized
- You’re building a new product from scratch
- You want to move fast and stay focused on features
- You don’t need separate teams working on different services
A monolith can help you launch quickly and keep things simple. Once your app grows, you can slowly split parts into microservices if needed.
When Should You Use Microservices?
Microservices are still useful in certain situations. They make sense if:
- You have a large team with many developers
- Your app is already big and hard to manage as a monolith
- You need high scalability and fault isolation
- Different teams want to use different tech stacks
Even then, it’s smart to start with a monolith and move to microservices later.
Tips for Building a Healthy Monolith
If you choose to build a monolith, here are some tips to keep it maintainable:
1. Organize Your Code Well
Keep your code clean and divided into logical parts. Use folders and modules to separate features.
2. Use Clear Boundaries
Even inside a monolith, you can have boundaries. Each part of your app should handle one job and not depend too much on others.
3. Write Tests
Testing helps keep your monolith stable as it grows. Unit tests and integration tests are important.
4. Monitor Performance
Keep an eye on performance. If one part becomes slow or heavy, you can later move it to its own service.
5. Plan for the Future
Build your monolith with the future in mind. If you ever need to move to microservices, it should be possible without rewriting everything.
Final Thoughts
Monoliths are not old-fashioned. In fact, for many teams, they are the smart choice. They offer speed, simplicity, and better focus. Microservices have their place, but they are not always the best answer.
Instead of following the latest trend, look at your team size, your product, and your goals. Choose the architecture that helps you move faster and build better software.
Software development is not one-size-fits-all. The best approach is the one that fits your needs, your team, and your users.
Whether you build monoliths or microservices, the most important thing is to keep learning, improving, and building apps that people love. And if you’re on this journey through a full stack developer course, remember understanding both sides of this debate will make you a smarter and more flexible developer.
Contact Us:
Name: ExcelR – Full Stack Developer Course in Hyderabad
Address: Unispace Building, 4th-floor Plot No.47 48,49, 2, Street Number 1, Patrika Nagar, Madhapur, Hyderabad, Telangana 500081
Phone: 087924 83183
