Developing distributed systems with modular monoliths and microservices

Abstract

This thesis introduces the concept of a Modular Monolith and tries to standardize a way to implement this idea to enable the development of projects within a distributed context. Unlike traditional monolithic architectures, this approach allows the project to run on a single runtime while effectively addressing the development requirements.

Modular Monoliths aim to provide an easy way of controlling the granularity of services. This enables the simplification of the resulting infrastructures(team topologies, pipelines, clusters, etc) after the usage of Service Oriented Architectures like Microservices, making them more manageable, efficient and less expensive.

Currently, there is no existing architecture that fully embodies the idea of a Modular Monolith. Therefore, this thesis proposes an implementation and a Development Guide to assist developers in adopting this approach. Additionally, it explores the outcomes of research conducted to evaluate its acceptance within the industry.

Furthermore, this thesis aims to revisit certain terms. By clarifying concepts, it becomes easier to comprehend the relationship and collaboration between Modular Monoliths and Microservices.

Ultimately, this study demonstrates that embracing a Modular Monolith mindset, developers can achieve simpler infrastructures without sacrificing the development requirements.