Ever wondered how big applications scale their platforms? Or how companies keep running smoothly even if a certain service fails?
The answer is Microservices Architecture.
Let’s compare it to a Monolithic Application, where all features (or methods) are tightly coupled. If Method A fails and the system tries to use it, the entire application could crash. But if Method B is needed, it can still run—only Method A fails.
Microservices take this idea further by treating each feature as an independent service. These smaller services are loosely coupled, meaning each has its own dependencies, logic, and models. They are easily deployable and scalable. With proper fault tolerance, even if a service fails, a fallback mechanism ensures the application continues running smoothly.
To set up a microservices architecture, we typically need three key components:
- Discovery Client
- Discovery Server
- API Gateway
Discovery Client: A Discovery Client is responsible for registering a service with the Discovery Server. This ensures that other services can locate it when needed, making communication seamless.
Discovery Server: The Discovery Server acts as the central registry for all services. It keeps track of which services are available and where they are running. When clients need to interact with a service, they query the Discovery Server to locate it.
API Gateway: The API Gateway is the entry point for your application. It has three main responsibilities:
Load Balancing: It manages incoming requests and distributes them across multiple services.
Routing: It directs requests to the appropriate service.
Intra-Service Communication: It facilitates communication between services when needed.
The API Gateway ensures that all services remain connected without exposing internal complexities to the outside world.
To implement a microservices architecture, one popular tool is Netflix Eureka. Eureka provides:
- A Discovery Client to register services.
- A Discovery Server to maintain the service registry.
Microservices architecture enables scalable, fault-tolerant applications by breaking down complex monolithic systems into smaller, manageable services. With tools like Netflix Eureka, setting up such a system becomes straightforward.
