Engineers are drawn to the microservices architecture due to its numerous benefits. Firstly, microservices allow for faster development and deployment of new features. This is because each service can be developed, tested and deployed independently, reducing the time and effort required for a full system deployment. Additionally, microservices increase reliability and resilience by reducing the impact of failures to a single service, rather than the entire system. This results in a more robust and fault-tolerant system.

Microservices promote modularity and ease of maintenance. Each service can be updated or maintained without affecting the rest of the system, making it easier to manage and maintain. This also enables independent scaling of different parts of the system, allowing organizations to allocate resources more effectively and respond to changing business needs. Finally, microservices allow for using different technologies for different services, enabling organizations to use the most appropriate technology for each particular service, rather than being limited by a single technology stack. Overall, these benefits make microservices a popular choice for many engineers and organizations.

Why organisations hate microservices

While microservices can bring many benefits, they also come with some challenges that can make organizations wary of adopting this architecture. Firstly, microservices require a significant change in the way organizations approach software development and delivery. The complexity of managing multiple services and their interactions can be a significant challenge, requiring a new set of skills and tools. This can result in a steep learning curve for organizations and teams who are used to more traditional monolithic architectures.

Another challenge is increased operational complexity. With microservices, organizations need to manage a larger number of deployed components, each with its own operational requirements such as scaling, monitoring, and security. This can be a significant burden on operations teams, especially in larger organizations with a large number of microservices.

Microservices can result in increased latency and reduced performance due to the increased communication and coordination between services. This can be a significant issue, especially for systems that require real-time processing or low latency.

Finally, microservices can increase costs, both in terms of development and operational expenses. The development cost is driven by the need for a more complex and sophisticated deployment pipeline, as well as the increased testing and integration required for multiple services. The operational cost is driven by the need for a larger infrastructure and more resources to manage the increased complexity of the system.

Should you use microservices?

Whether or not you should use microservices depends on your specific use case and requirements. Microservices can be a great choice for organizations that need to deliver new features quickly and scale certain parts of the system independently. They also promote modularity and ease of maintenance, making it easier to manage and maintain a complex system.

Microservices also come with challenges such as increased complexity, increased operational overhead, reduced performance, and increased costs, which may not be suitable for all organizations. If you have a small application with simple requirements, a monolithic architecture may be a more appropriate choice.

Before making a decision, it's important to carefully consider your organization's specific requirements and weigh the pros and cons of microservices. This may involve conducting a technical evaluation and considering the impact on your development and operations teams. It may also involve seeking the advice of experts in the field.