Top 5 Technologies to Build Microservices Architecture

Microservices architecture is the most preferred architectural trend this year. `The microservices architecture is typically characterized by a set of loosely coupled services. A microservices-based business application typically has the individual business functions in well-contained modules interacting via clear interfaces. 

Typically, in a microservices setup, the business function modules are developed, deployed, and maintained separately. Because of increasing popularity, many technologies have sprung up that support the microservices architecture. However, some technologies suit this architecture better than others. We have attempted to present the best microservices technologies list in the paragraphs below.

Adopting Microservices Architecture

Many great corporations have settled for the microservices architecture and have since been able to innovate and succeed. Netflix, Uber, and Amazon, among others, are a few of them. The most obvious benefits of using microservices architecture are as follows:

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With the individual functionalities organized into modules, it is easier to understand, develop, test, deploy and maintain the module.

• It is easier to scale these modules independently of the others. 
• Only the concerned microservice is affected when a memory leak exists in one of them. The others do not stop running.
• The other microservices remain safe even when one is one of them is under a security attack. This is because one module is isolated from the other.

Different programming languages are used to implement microservices. However, the infrastructures used may also be different. The typical components of a microservices architecture are:

• An API gateway
• Service discovery
• The service, and 
• Database/Cache

What all make the Microservices Technology Stack

We attempt to discuss what technologies go into building the different components of the microservices architecture.

1: Docker and Kubernetes

The Docker software platform can be used to build, test, and deploy each microservice software modules called containers. Docker containers can be deployed practically at any place as each of the containers is self-reliant in terms of configurations and resources that are required to run the microservice.

Complexities of operations arise when the microservices are scaled across multiple servers. Kubernetes is then used as a complement to Docker to tackle these complexities. 

Docker and Kubernetes form an ideal pair to create a flexible base and tackle a microservices-based system that gives rise to operational complexities when being scaled. Scaling up or scaling down of the system is required when the workload increases or decreases. 

Benefits of Docker

Docker is lightweight in that all components of a microservice can be packed into a Docker image and this can be contained in an isolated manner from another microservice. To deploy the microservices only the Docker images have to be distributed via the Docker files.

The Docker Compose is an advanced Docker tool that helps to coordinate multiple containers to build a complete microservices system. The Docker Machine is what is used to install the complete Docker environment on a server.

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It is important to note that Docker may not be suitable every single time. In some other cases, you may have to use alternative technologies such as when deploying many different Java web applications on a Java web server. 

2: REST

Representational State Transfer (REST) is a technology used to build RESTful APIs. REST allows the microservices to communicate directly with one another via HTTP. The request and response formats are in HTML, XML, or JSON.

A majority of the microservices that are web applications choose REST. Upgradation to HTTP/2.0 is possible wherever required and, therefore, protocols such as gRPC need not be used. 

Benefits of REST

REST is yet another modular tool that is suitable for microservices architecture. It especially is suitable for building scalable models. Using the REST pattern allows the server and the client to be implemented without the knowledge of the other. This allows for modification of code at either end without affecting the other entity. 

3: Redis

Remote Dictionary Server (Redis) is a popular NoSQL in-memory database. It also provides additional support for persisting data and helps to reduce duplication of data. It enables absolute statelessness for the applications processes. Redis is commonly built on top of Spring Boot frameworks. 

Benefits of Redis

Microservices need to maintain their state when using a database. For the most efficient uncoupled scaling, service data must remain isolated from other data layers. Redis when used with clustering or Redis Sentinel fits these requirements perfectly. 

Read Also: Spring Boot for Microservices: The New Age Framework for Your Apps

Redis is used widely in the microservices architecture as any microservice’s primary database as a cache. In specific applications, Redis can also act as a message broker. 

4: Prometheus

Originally developed at SoundCloud Prometheus is an open-source alerting and system monitoring tool. Using Prometheus it is possible to implement a multidimensional data model with data stores and data scrapers. Data is stored in the form of key-value pairs in memory cache files. 

Prometheus is based on a simple query language that helps in monitoring the tasks. It also includes visualization features for statistics and alters. Prometheus does a good job when compared to traditional monitoring systems in complex, real-world environments.

Benefits of Prometheus

Prometheus is beneficial for microservices by the support it provides for multi-dimensional data collection and querying. Prometheus also offers an extensible data model allowing you to attach arbitrary key-value dimensions to a time series. 

Read Also: Why have big companies like Amazon and Netflix adopted Microservices?

Prometheus is widely used in the creation of minimalist applications and best serves in building up simple microservices. It also finds use in distributed cloud environments. However, Prometheus is not very suitable for second-by-second data scraping applications.

5: Consul

Prometheus does a good
Used for service discovery, Consul helps microservices to communicate with one another. Consul has some unique features such as 

• Support for DNS and having an HTTP REST API
• Configuration files are auto-generated by using Consul Template
• It can exclude services from service discovery (when health checks fail) by performing health checks.

DNS interface and Consul Template provide Consul with the flexibility that allows it to be used with many technologies. This point is very important in the context of microservices. This aspect allows the possibility of being able to integrate new technologies whenever required in the longer term. 

Benefits of Consul

Consul’s infrastructure is well-suited to meet the challenges that occur in synchronous microservices. The other aspects of Consul are:

• Consul covers service discovery functions and helps to integrate new technologies when required.
• Consul aids transparency and is used without any code dependencies.
• Consul is used for configuring the microservices. 
• Consul DNS helps to implement load balancing with the DNS server.

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Using the Consul Template allows Apache HTTPD to have an entry in its configuration file for each microservice. Thereby, any microservice can be reached from outside as soon as it has registered with Consul. 

Other Technologies
Some of the other technologies that are helpful while building microservices are: 

• Asynchronous communication and Atom,
• Messaging using Kafka,
• Service Discovery and Eureka,
• Hystrix for Resilience, and
• Cloud Foundry and PaaS, among others.

Languages, Frameworks and Tools Used for Microservices Implementation

Microservices can be implemented with a variety of tools, frameworks, and versions. Some of them are Python, C++, .Net, Java, and Node JS.

Java

The easy-to-read annotation syntax of Java is primarily the reason why it is the best language for microservices in 2021. When using the Microservices frameworks with the Java language for building this type of architecture, even complex systems are easy to read and understand. 

Java offers model components, UI, and connectivity to back-end resources. These can be contained within applications that can be independently deployed. Standards such as JAX-RS for APIs, CDI for dependency injection, and lifecycle management and JPA for data handling are well-suited for building microservices applications.

Read our blog "How Kubernetes Works to Support Microservices Architecture"

Some popular frameworks for building Java microservices include Spring Boot, Restlet, Spark, and DropWizard. 

Golang

This is best suited for enhancing projects that are running. Golang is popular for the support that it provides for API and concurrency properties favoring microservices applications. The concurrency improves the productivity of the cores and machines. Further, it possesses a powerful standard used for developing web services. Golang is suited for developing large and complex applications. 

Go Micro and Go Kit are two popular frameworks for microservices development. The Go microservices architecture supports extensive testing. It is also easy to create robust tests and embed them into workflows with ease when using Golang.

Python

Python uses the RESTful API approach for microservices. This allows using web protocols and software to manipulate objects remotely. This also helps to break down the applications into components and manage them. A range of microservices frameworks is available for web applications development. Some of the best microservices frameworks are:

Falcom – Create smart proxies, app back-ends, and cloud APIs 

Flask – Popular Python Micro framework based on Jinja2 and Werkzeug

Nameko – This Microservices framework allows developers to concentrate on application logic

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CherryPy –Python object-oriented web frame

Bottle –WSGI micro framework that is simple, lightweight and fast

Node JS

Node JS has been used by both start-ups and enterprises in the recent past to set up their microservices projects. When built with the V8 runtime, the input-output bound tasks work in the high-speed mode. Node JS is used for CPU bound programs involving intensive calculations. Node JS and microservices can help to handle specific loads using very little hardware. Other payoffs include high performance, increased productivity, and reduced costs. 

.Net

ASP.Net Development services make it simple to build the APIs that eventually become the microservices.Net offers built-in support for building and deploying microservices using Docker containers. Microservices built with.Net can run on all the cloud platforms. Further, .Net microservices can be mixed with applications written in Node JS, Java, or other languages.

Wrapping up …

Implementation of microservices would perhaps lead to a serverless architecture. However, to have a well-functioning microservices system in place, using the best microservices technology stack is vital. It is also important to have a development team with in-depth knowledge of the technologies to build an extensive microservices system for your organization.

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