Introduction
We want to shortly give an overview of the different architectural styles, which are often used in software development. We quickly run through many of them and talk shortly about two advantages and disadvantages
1. Monolithic Architecture
The entire application is built as a single, unified unit. All the code is tightly coupled and runs on a single server.
Advantages:
- Simplicity: A monolithic architecture is easier to develop, test, and deploy since the entire application is built as a single unit.
- Performance: Since all the code runs on a single server, a monolithic architecture can be faster and more efficient than other architectures.
Disadvantages:
- Scalability: It can be challenging to scale a monolithic architecture, as all the code is tightly coupled and runs on a single server.
- Flexibility: A monolithic architecture can be less flexible than other architectures since changes to one part of the application can affect the entire system.
2. Client-Server Architecture
The application is divided into two parts: a client and a server. The client is responsible for user interface and interaction, while the server provides the backend services and data storage
Advantages:
- Scalability: A client-server architecture can be scaled horizontally by adding more servers to handle increased demand.
- Security: A client-server architecture provides a clear separation between the client and server, which can help improve security.
Disadvantages:
- Complexity: A client-server architecture can be more complex to develop, test, and deploy than other architectures.
- Latency: Since all requests must be sent over the network, a client-server architecture can have higher latency than other architectures.
3. Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA)
The application is built as a collection of independent services that communicate with each other using well-defined interfaces.
Advantages:
- Flexibility: A SOA can be more flexible than other architectures since services can be developed and deployed independently.
- Reusability: Services can be reused across multiple applications, reducing development time and costs.
Disadvantages:
- Complexity: A SOA can be more complex to develop, test, and deploy than other architectures since it involves coordinating multiple services.
- Performance: A SOA can have lower performance than other architectures since communication between services must happen over the network.
4. Event-Driven Architecture (EDA)
The application is designed around the idea of events, which trigger actions or processes. Events can be generated by users, system components, or external sources.
Advantages:
- Flexibility: An EDA can be more flexible than other architectures since it is designed around events rather than specific business processes.
- Scalability: An EDA can be easily scaled by adding more event producers or consumers as needed.
Disadvantages:
- Complexity: A client-server architecture can be more complex to develop, test, and deploy than other architectures.
- Latency: Since all requests must be sent over the network, a client-server architecture can have higher latency than other architectures.
5. Microservices Architecture
The application is built as a collection of small, independent services that communicate with each other through well-defined interfaces. Each service is responsible for a specific task and can be developed, deployed, and scaled independently. In general, the difference to SOA is, that microservices are a lot smaller than in the SOA approach. Also, you focus on very lightweight protocols like Messaging Systems or HTTP instead of SOAP or Rest. Also SOA-Services are much bigger in general
Advantages:
- Scalability: Microservices can be easily scaled by adding more instances of individual services as needed.
- Flexibility: Microservices can be developed and deployed independently, providing greater flexibility and faster time-to-market.
Disadvantages:
- Scalability: Microservices can be easily scaled by adding more instances of individual services as needed.
- Flexibility: Microservices can be developed and deployed independently, providing greater flexibility and faster time-to-market.
6. Layered Architecture
The application is divided into multiple layers, each with its own responsibilities. The layers typically include a presentation layer, business logic layer, and data access layer.
Advantages:
- Separation of concerns: A layered architecture separates concerns into distinct layers, making it easier to develop, test, and deploy the application.
- Flexibility: Each layer can be developed independently, providing greater flexibility and faster time-to-market.
Disadvantages:
- Performance: A layered architecture can have lower performance than other architectures since each layer adds overhead.
- Complexity: A layered architecture can be more complex to design and develop than other architectures since it involves coordinating multiple layers.
7. Hexagonal Architecture (Ports and Adapters)
The application is designed around the idea of ports and adapters. Ports define the interface between the application and external systems, while adapters provide the implementation for those interfaces.
Advantages:
- Testability: A hexagonal architecture is highly testable, as the ports and adapters can be mocked and tested independently.
- Separation of concerns: A hexagonal architecture separates concerns into distinct layers, making it easier to develop, test, and deploy the application.
Disadvantages:
- Over-engineering: It can be easy to over-engineer a hexagonal architecture, adding unnecessary complexity and making the system harder to understand and maintain.
- Complexity: A hexagonal architecture can be more complex to design and develop than other architectures, especially for large applications.