Make complex architecture simple: talk about microservices

Have you ever experienced that headache moment? As the system gets bigger and bigger, the functions are stacked on top of each other, and you have to be careful when changing a line of code, for fear of affecting the whole body. I guess many teams have encountered similar problems - services are entangled, all employees have to be on standby for a release, and new features are launched as slowly as a snail. It feels like a bunch of wires tangled together at random, and the longer it goes on, the harder it is to untie it.

But is that really the only way things can happen? Think about it differently.

Why is your architecture always "tied"?

Imagine if you had a huge application with all the functionality packaged together. Every update, even just adjusting the color of a small button, requires redeploying the entire system. This is not just a matter of efficiency, but more like an ongoing adventure: I don’t know if this change will affect other completely unrelated functions.

At this time, the concept of microservices quietly appeared. It's not magic, it's just a smarter way of organizing code - splitting a large system into independent small services. Each service is only responsible for one thing and can be developed, deployed, and run independently. Doesn’t it sound much more refreshing?

However, splitting is not just a matter of making a few random cuts. If it is broken down too much, management will be like a piece of loose sand; if it is not broken down enough, it will fall back on the old path. How to grasp this degree is the real knowledge.

What role does Spring Boot play here?

You may have heard of Spring Boot, which is like a thoughtful toolbox that makes building microservices less painful. It helps you handle a lot of trivial things: configuration is simplified, dependency management becomes intuitive, and the built-in server saves you from having to worry about the environment. You can focus on your business instead of endlessly adjusting configurations.

But just because a tool is easy to use, it doesn’t mean it can automatically produce a good architecture. Just like giving you a set of top-notch kitchen utensils doesn’t mean you can cook a delicious meal immediately. The key lies in how you use it.

Some practical ideas without detours

What should we pay attention to specifically? Let me talk about a few points that are often mentioned, but are easy to go astray in actual operation.

How to draw service boundaries? This may be the first question that bothers people. My suggestion is: divide by business capabilities, not technical level. For example, "User Management" could be one service and "Order Processing" another. Each service should have its own data and try to avoid sharing databases directly. In this way, if a service problem occurs, it will not topple over like dominoes.

Is it better to communicate lighter or heavier? There is always dialogue between services, but the way of dialogue is particular. Many people want to use complex message queues or synchronous call chains when they first come up. In fact, this may not be appropriate. For most scenarios, keeping a simple and straightforward HTTP API or lightweight messaging will suffice. Over-design is sometimes more troublesome than under-design.

Failures are normal, not accidents. In the world of microservices, it is possible for a service to be temporarily offline. Don’t expect to be 100% stable forever. Therefore, fault tolerance must be considered when designing: timeout settings, retry mechanisms, service degradation strategies, all of which must be thought of in advance. It's like carrying an umbrella when you go out. It may not rain every day, but it's always good to have one.

Deployment and monitoring cannot be done as an afterthought. If there are too many services, manual deployment will become a nightmare. Consider automating your deployment pipeline from the beginning. Similarly, monitoring is not a patch added after going online. Each service should expose health metrics, logs, and key metrics so you can see system status at a glance.

Let’s talk about our own experiences

existkpowerIn our technical practice, we regard microservices as an evolutionary path rather than a disruptive revolution. It is not a panacea and cannot solve all problems, but for suitable scenarios—such as projects that require rapid iteration, independent team development, and diversified technology stacks—it can indeed bring different flexibility.

We tend to start small, breaking down the parts that change most frequently and are easiest to separate. Each step of separation is accompanied by clear contracts and test guarantees. During the process, it was discovered that the importance of documentation and communication was seriously underestimated. If the service interface changes, all relevant teams must be notified in time; API version management must also have rules, otherwise there will be chaos during the upgrade.

Sometimes you hear warnings about the "complexity of distributed systems," and that's right. But complexity is not a reason to give up, it is something that needs to be managed. By choosing the right tools, establishing clear agreements, and cultivating collaboration habits among teams, many problems can be resolved in the early stages.

Have a few honest chats

Microservice architecture is not the end, it is just a path. Its value lies not in the split itself, but in the independence and speed it brings. If your team is being weighed down by the cumbersomeness of a monolithic architecture, try rethinking it from this perspective. Start with small modules, test your ideas, and then gradually expand. Technology always serves business goals, don’t let architecture be a constraint.

existkpower, we believe that a good technical solution should be like a precise machine - each component performs its own duties and works together to ultimately drive the smooth operation of the whole. It requires patience and constant attention to detail. If you are also exploring on a similar path, perhaps these sharings can bring you a slightly different perspective.

Remember, there is no single right answer, only options that are more appropriate for the situation at hand. The prerequisite for making a good choice is always to first see clearly what your problem is.

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, Kpower integrates 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.