Monolith vs modular monolith vs microservices?
Understand the concept
A monolith is deployed as one application, a modular monolith keeps clear internal feature boundaries within that deployment, and microservices are independently deployable services. These choices affect how teams change code, scale workloads and handle failure. Microservices reduce some coupling but introduce network calls, distributed data and operational coordination.
Important ideas
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Monolith: one deployable application; simple to start and operate.
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Modular monolith: one deployment with clear feature boundaries.
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Microservices: independent deployments and scaling, with more network and operational complexity.
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A small team can often enforce useful domain boundaries without separate deployments or databases.
Can you explain it without the notes?
Monolith vs modular monolith vs microservices?
Use your own words. Explain an example and one limitation before checking the explanation.
Check your explanation
A monolith is deployed as one application, a modular monolith keeps clear internal feature boundaries within that deployment, and microservices are independently deployable services. These choices affect how teams change code, scale workloads and handle failure. Microservices reduce some coupling but introduce network calls, distributed data and operational coordination.
Turn this concept into a clear answer.
- Give a specific scaling or ownership reason before choosing microservices; size alone is not a complete argument.
Keep connecting the ideas.
Next lesson: What are layered, clean and hexagonal architecture?Adapted from 07_SYSTEM_DESIGN_ARCHITECTURE.md · “Monolith vs modular monolith vs microservices?”. Examples are study fragments; framework behavior can depend on your version.