Monolith vs microservices comparison - Quick Revision & Key Differences

Recall & Review

beginner

What is a monolithic architecture?

A monolithic architecture is a single unified software application where all components are tightly connected and run as one process.

beginner

What defines a microservices architecture?

Microservices architecture breaks an application into small, independent services that communicate over a network, each handling a specific business function.

intermediate

What is a key advantage of microservices over monoliths?

Microservices allow independent development, deployment, and scaling of services, making the system more flexible and easier to maintain.

intermediate

What is a common challenge when using microservices?

Managing communication between services, handling data consistency, and increased operational complexity are common challenges in microservices.

beginner

When might a monolithic architecture be preferred?

Monoliths are often preferred for simple applications or when quick development and deployment are needed without complex infrastructure.

Which architecture runs all components as a single process?

A Monolithic

B Microservices

C Serverless

D Event-driven

Monolithic architecture runs all components together in one process.

What is a main benefit of microservices?

A Independent scaling of services

B Tight coupling of components

C Simpler deployment as one unit

D Less network communication

Microservices allow each service to scale independently.

Which is a challenge unique to microservices?

A Limited scalability

B Single codebase management

C Complex inter-service communication

D Monolithic deployment

Microservices require managing communication between many independent services.

When is a monolithic architecture usually better?

A For very large, complex systems

B When quick, simple development is needed

C When independent service scaling is critical

D For distributed teams working separately

Monoliths are simpler and faster to develop for small or simple projects.

Microservices communicate mainly through:

A Single database access

B Direct function calls

C Shared memory

D Network calls (APIs)

Microservices communicate over the network using APIs or messaging.

Explain the main differences between monolithic and microservices architectures.

Think about how the app is built and managed.

Describe scenarios where you would choose monolith over microservices and vice versa.

Consider project size and team structure.