6 Things to Know Before Getting Started With Microservices

Microservices is a new concept for application design that provides a lot of advantages in development, testing, and deployment. It involves structuring an application in separate components, the sum of which work together to form a cohesive application. This way, developers can work on the components separately, speeding development. Additionally, the microservices architecture allows the application to be distributed across multiple machines or even separate databases, so that the resulting product is reliable and easily scaled. It leverages tools like Docker containers and other new technologies and follows the DevOps concept. What do developers need to know before getting started building via microservices?

1. Determine Features to Add to a Monolithic-Designed Application and Develop Those as Microservices

Microservices works beautifully with the emerging DevOps concept of running an IT department.

Microservices doesn’t have to be adopted at full scale overnight. Existing applications can be expanded and empowered with new technologies quickly and easily when you identify add-on features that can be developed and deployed as microservices. Think self-containment when writing new features into a system.

2. Isolate the Microservices in a Separate Environment

Since microservices are, by nature, self contained, each needs its own runtime environment. Deploy these services on a separate infrastructure that is either physically isolated or logically isolated from the monolithic application.

3. Begin With Just a Few Services

When working with an existing monolithic application, begin with a few self-contained services and work towards the microservices design over time. Choose a few coarse-grained services that can easily be self-contained.

4. Separate Teams That are Working With New Microservices From Those Maintaining the Existing Monolothic Applications

It’s much easier to work toward a new microservices development environment if you establish to separate teams: one to oversee the existing monolithic application and another to delve into the new microservices developments. In this setup, new developments aren’t hindered by ordinary maintenance work, and the legacy system remains fully functional for the workforce depending on it.

5. Use Feature Toggling

Establish a means for toggling back and forth between the new microservice and the existing application so that the transition from old to new is seamless and reversible if there is a problem.

At times, there will be multiple versions of the same feature that have to co-exist — both the older monolithic version and the newly-built microservice. Toggling gives developers the power to switch between the two, allowing a fallback if the new microservice fails and providing a seamless means by which to hand over the feature to the new microservice when ready.

6. Don’t Rush Things

Migrating to a wholly microservices architecture takes time. It requires rethinking processes and techniques that have been in place for a long time. Give developers and operations time to adjust. Having a happy team that is successful with microservices in the long run means giving them the time and space to take their time in the beginning.

Are you ready to learn more about microservices and how it can benefit your organization’s IT infrastructure? Big Data Week is the ideal event for educating, training, and preparing your IT workforce for the changes that microservices and other design innovations bring in the age of big data. Make your reservations early! You can see the full conference schedule and what speakers are scheduled to attend on the Big Data Week website.