Tag Archives: Microservice Architecture

Microservice 101: Micro Frontend Architecture Pattern

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The Micro Frontend Architecture Pattern is a design approach that entails breaking down a large web application into smaller, independent front-end applications. Each of these applications is responsible for a specific part of the user interface. This approach draws inspiration from microservices architecture and aims to deliver similar benefits, such as scalability, faster development times, and improved resource management.

Key Points

  • Decomposition: Break down a large web application into smaller, independent front-end applications.
  • Autonomy: Each front-end application is responsible for a specific part of the UI and can be developed, deployed, and maintained independently.
  • Scalability: Micro frontends can be scaled up or down independently, allowing for more efficient resource allocation.
  • Faster Development: Independent development teams can work on different micro frontends simultaneously, reducing development time.
  • Better Resource Management: Micro frontends can be optimized for specific tasks, reducing the load on the server and improving performance.

Types of Micro Frontend Patterns

  • Component Library Pattern: A centralized library of reusable components that can be used across multiple micro frontends.
  • Component Sharing Pattern: Micro frontends share components, reducing duplication and improving consistency.
  • Route-Based Pattern: Micro frontends are organized based on routes, with each route handling a specific part of the UI.
  • Event-Driven Pattern: Micro frontends communicate with each other through events, allowing for loose coupling and greater flexibility.
  • Iframe-Based Pattern: Micro frontends are embedded in separate iframes, providing isolation and reducing conflicts.
  • Server-Side Rendering Pattern: The server assembles the HTML and components of multiple micro frontends into a single page, reducing client-side complexity.

Advantages

  • Improved Scalability: Micro frontends can be scaled up or down independently, allowing for more efficient resource allocation.
  • Faster Development: Independent development teams can work on different micro frontends simultaneously, reducing development time.
  • Better Resource Management: Micro frontends can be optimized for specific tasks, reducing the load on the server and improving performance.
  • Enhanced Autonomy: Each micro frontend can be developed, deployed, and maintained independently, allowing for greater autonomy and flexibility.

Challenges

  • Complexity: Micro frontends can introduce additional complexity, especially when integrating multiple micro frontends.
  • Communication: Micro frontends need to communicate with each other, which can be challenging, especially in event-driven patterns.
  • Testing: Testing micro frontends can be more complex due to the distributed nature of the architecture.

Tools and Technologies

  • Bit: A platform that allows for building, sharing, and reusing components across micro frontends.
  • Client-Side Composition: A technique that uses client-side scripting to assemble the HTML and components of multiple micro frontends.
  • Server-Side Rendering: A technique that uses server-side rendering to assemble the HTML and components of multiple micro frontends into a single page.

Examples

  • Amazon: Uses micro frontends to manage different parts of its UI, such as search and recommendations.
  • Zalando: Uses micro frontends to manage different parts of its e-commerce platform, such as product listings and checkout.
  • Capital One: Uses micro frontends to manage different parts of its banking platform, such as account management and transactions.

The Micro Frontends Architecture Pattern is an effective approach for creating scalable, maintainable, and efficient web applications. It involves breaking down a large application into smaller, independent front-end applications. This approach helps developers work more efficiently, reduce complexity, and improve performance. However, it requires careful planning, communication, and testing to ensure seamless integration and achieve optimal results.

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Microservice 101: The Strangler Fig pattern

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The Strangler Fig pattern is a design pattern used in microservices architecture to gradually replace a monolithic application with microservices. It is named after the Strangler Fig tree, which grows around a host tree, eventually strangling it. In this pattern, new microservices are developed alongside the existing monolithic application, gradually replacing its functionality until the monolith is no longer needed.

Key Steps

  1. Transform: Identify a module or functionality within the monolith to be replaced by a new microservice. Develop the microservice in parallel with the monolith.
  2. Coexist: Implement a proxy or API gateway to route requests to either the monolith or the new microservice. This allows both systems to coexist and ensures uninterrupted functionality.
  3. Eliminate: Gradually shift traffic from the monolith to the microservice. Once the microservice is fully functional, the monolith can be retired.

Advantages

  • Incremental Migration: Minimizes risks associated with complete system rewrites.
  • Flexibility: Allows for independent development and deployment of microservices.
  • Reduced Disruptions: Ensures uninterrupted system functionality during the migration process.

Disadvantages

  • Complexity: Requires careful planning and coordination to manage both systems simultaneously.
  • Additional Overhead: Requires additional resources for maintaining both the monolith and the microservices.

Implementation

  1. Identify Module: Select a module or functionality within the monolith to be replaced.
  2. Develop Microservice: Create a new microservice to replace the identified module.
  3. Implement Proxy: Configure an API gateway or proxy to route requests to either the monolith or the microservice.
  4. Gradual Migration: Shift traffic from the monolith to the microservice incrementally.
  5. Retire Monolith: Once the microservice is fully functional, retire the monolith.

Tools and Technologies

  • API Gateway: Used to route requests to either the monolith or the microservice.
  • Change Data Capture (CDC): Used to stream changes from the monolith to the microservice.
  • Event Streaming Platform: Used to create event streams that can be used by other applications.

Examples

  • E-commerce Application: Migrate order management functionality from a monolithic application to microservices using the Strangler Fig pattern.
  • Legacy System: Use the Strangler Fig pattern to gradually replace a legacy system with microservices.

The Strangler Fig pattern is a valuable tool for migrating monolithic applications to microservices. It allows for incremental migration, reduces disruptions, and minimizes risks associated with complete system rewrites. However, it requires careful planning and coordination to manage both systems simultaneously.

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Angular &Microfrontends: Toy Blocks to Web Blocks

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When I was a child, my playtime revolved around building vibrant cities with my toy blocks. I would carefully piece them together, ensuring each block had its own space and significance. As a seasoned architect with over two decades of industry experience, I’ve transitioned from tangible to digital blocks. The essence remains unchanged: creating structured and efficient designs.

Microfrontends:

Much like the city sectors of my childhood imaginations, microfrontends offer modularity, allowing different parts of a web application to evolve independently yet harmoniously. Angular’s intrinsic modular nature seamlessly aligns with this. This modular structure can be imagined as various sectors or boroughs of a digital city, each having its unique essence yet forming part of the larger metropolis.

AG Grid:

In my toy block city, streets and avenues ensured connectivity. AG Grid performs a similar function in our digital city, giving structure and clarity to vast amounts of data. With Angular, integrating AG Grid feels as natural as laying down roads on a plain.

<ag-grid-angular
    style="width: 100%; height: 500px;"
    class="ag-theme-alpine"
    [rowData]="myData"
    [columnDefs]="myColumns">
</ag-grid-angular>

These grids act as pathways, guiding the user through the information landscape.

Web Components and Angular Elements:

In the heart of my miniature city, unique buildings stood tall, each with its distinct architecture. Web components in our digital city reflect this individuality. They encapsulate functionality and can be reused across applications, making them the skyscrapers of our application. With Angular Elements, creating these standalone skyscrapers becomes a breeze.

import { createCustomElement } from '@angular/elements'

@NgModule({
  entryComponents: [DashboardComponent]
})
export class DashboardModule {
  constructor(injector: Injector) {
    const customElement = createCustomElement(DashboardComponent, { injector });
    customElements.define('my-dashboard', customElement);
  }
};

Webpack and Infrastructure:

Beneath my toy city lay an imaginary network of tunnels and infrastructure. Similarly, Webpack operates behind the scenes in our digital realm, ensuring our Angular applications are optimized and efficiently bundled.

const AngularWebpackPlugin = require('@ngtools/webpack')

module.exports = {
  // ...
  module: {
    rules: [
      {
        test: /(?:\.ngfactory\.js|\.ngstyle\.js|\.ts)$/,
        loader: '@ngtools/webpack'
      }
    ]
  },
  plugins: [
    new AngularWebpackPlugin()
  ]
};;

Manfred Steyer:

In every narrative, there’s an inspiration. For me, that beacon has been Manfred Steyer. His contributions to the Angular community have been invaluable. His insights into microfrontends and architecture greatly inspired my journey. Manfred’s eBook (https://www.angulararchitects.io/en/book/) is a must-read for those yearning to deepen their understanding.

From the joys of childhood toy blocks to the complex software architectures today, the essence of creation is unchanging. Tools like Module Federation, Angular, Webpack, AG-Grid, and WebComponents, combined with foundational structures like the Shell, empower us not just to build but to envision and innovate.

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