Explore microservices in-depth and understand when to use them.

Scalability & System Design for Developers

In this module, we’ll explore microservices in depth and understand when to use them. Beyond that, learn about micro and macro architecture, strategies for migrating old systems, the role of Docker in this architecture, and technologies for implementing microservices.

An Introduction to Microservice Principles and Concepts

# Motivation
Microservices provide much better
decoupling. Therefore, they help to modularize and isolate software modules (see
[Advantages](https://www.educative.io/courses/introduction-microservice-principles-concepts/advantages)). However, microservices are modules of a larger system. Therefore, they must be integrated.
This poses a challenge for the architecture:
- On the one hand, the architecture has
to **ensure that the microservices can work together** to form the overall
system.  
- On the other hand, the freedom of the **microservices should not
be too restricted since this would compromise their isolation** and independence which are required for most of the benefits of a microservice architecture.

# Definition
For this reason, it is advisable to divide the architecture into a micro and a macro architecture.

- The **micro architecture** comprises all
decisions that can be made individually for each microservice. 
- The **macro architecture** consists of all decisions that can be made
at a global level and apply to all microservices.


In this lesson, we'll walk through what this chapter holds for us.