From giant building blocks to flexible modules: a chat about system architecture

Imagine you have a giant robot. It has only one brain, which controls all its arms, legs, and joints. Move your fingers and your entire body has to be recoordinated. Sounds a bit clunky, right? But that’s how many companies’ software systems work now—we call it a monolithic architecture. It was once reliable, but as the business grew, it began to become stiff and sluggish, and changing a small function could cause chain problems.

One day, you decide to take the robot apart. Each joint has its own independent cerebellum, which allows the arms to wave, the legs to walk, and the fingers to play the piano flexibly. They communicate with each other through clear signals. This is the idea of ​​​​microservices. But how to dismantle it without causing the robot to fall apart?

Why does everyone want to "demolish" it?

Some people ask, why bother with a good system? The answers lie in everyday worries.

For example, every time there is a big promotion in your online mall, the payment page gets stuck. Because the entire system is tied together, the traffic brought by promotional activities slows down order processing, user login, and even product display. You just want to expand the payment module, but you have to upgrade the entire behemoth. It's like taking the entire machine out of production just to change a gear.

Or, you want to experiment with a new feature - such as using the servo principle to create a smoother animation effect. In a monolithic system, you need to consider whether it will affect other old code. After a few weeks of testing, the enthusiasm has cooled down. In the microservice architecture, you can develop, test, and deploy this small function independently, just like installing a new finger on a robot without shutting down.

Demolition, not random demolition

Of course, there are risks in dismantling. What should I do if the signal transmission is slow? Will a crash of a small module trigger an avalanche? At this time, some "mechanical principles" are needed.

Services must be divided by field. Just like a robot, the motion system, vision system, and power management each perform their own duties. Mixing order and user management in one service is like having a servo calculate the path at the same time - it may not be able to turn around.

Communication needs to be lightweight and reliable. Common ones are using REST API or message queue. Imagine if the arms and legs rely on yelling to communicate, it would be easy to make mistakes in a noisy environment. It is necessary to establish a protocol as accurate and stable as the servo motor receiving pulse signals.

There must be a fault-tolerant design. If a single service fails, it cannot bring down the whole system. This is like one of the robot's legs temporarily failing. It can automatically adjust its center of gravity and use its other legs to maintain balance. In the system, this is called circuit breaker, degradation and elastic recovery.

What does a real migration look like?

There is no standard answer, but usually you will go through several stages.

First, "cross the river by feeling for the stones." Choose a sub-function with clear boundaries and relatively independent operations. For example, separate user login authentication. This small success gave the team confidence.

Then, like building Lego, rebuild it piece by piece. In the process, you will encounter technical issues such as how to process shared data and how to ensure transactions. At this time, experience becomes particularly important. Mature teams will design data flow and backup strategies to avoid information being out of sync.

Infrastructure has to keep up. You need automated deployment tools, a unified monitoring panel, and clear documentation. After all, managing a hundred small services requires completely different logistical support than managing one big one.

Sometimes, not dismantling is also a kind of wisdom

Microservices are not a panacea. If the business is simple and the number of users is stable, hard demolition may increase complexity. Just like a small robotic arm, one controller is enough. It has to be divided into five or six independent modules, and the wiring alone is a headache.

Therefore, before making a decision, you must ask yourself: Is your system really at the point where it is "difficult to turn around"? Does the team have distributed system management capabilities? Are operation and maintenance costs within an acceptable range?

Who will hold the scalpel for you?

Architecture migration is a delicate job. It requires technical depth and a thorough understanding of business logic. You have to understand how modules are coupled, how data flows, which parts can be independent and which work closely together.

It's like modifying a complex machine. You need more than just wrenches and screwdrivers. You also need complete drawings, a mastery of mechanical principles, and the patience to implement it step by step. From evaluating the existing architecture, to designing the split plan, to implementation and follow-up, every link requires experience.

existkpower, we often talk to our customers about these specific and micro-challenges. After all, a theoretically perfect architecture will eventually have to face real business traffic and code logic. Our role is more like the collaborator who stands by your side, looks at the drawings together, and helps you avoid pitfalls.

Will the world change after the migration is complete?系统会变得更敏捷，功能更新更快，团队协作也更清晰。它就像给机器人赋予了真正的生命——每个部分都可以独立进化，整体却又和谐统一。那种灵活和韧性，往往是业务创新最好的土壤。

In the end, the choice of technical architecture is ultimately to serve the simplest goal: to make the system better support the business and make changes happen more smoothly. Whether it is a huge monolith or a flexible microservice, the one that is suitable for the present and the foreseeable future is the best one.

Established in 2005,kpowerhas been dedicated to a professional compact motion unit manufacturer, headquartered in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, China. Leveraging innovations in modular drive technology,kpowerintegrates high-performance motors, precision reducers, and multi-protocol control systems to provide efficient and customized smart drive system solutions. Kpower has delivered professional drive system solutions to over 500 enterprise clients globally with products covering various fields such as Smart Home Systems, Automatic Electronics, Robotics, Precision Agriculture, Drones, and Industrial Automation.