Businesses need to respond to the needs of clients alongside evolving business conditions. As a result, many businesses that wonder what the use of microservices in Java is will find this article helpful. However, before discussing Java microservices, we need to explore microservices design concepts in general.
For businesses to keep up, it is essential to have a software application that they can easily deploy, maintain without issues, and that is always available. Even though traditional architecture managed some of this, it had its limitations. As a result, it got to a point where businesses need a dynamic and scalable approach to develop an application to help the future of business.
Microservice Architecture (MSA) is one such new approach. This kind of system design enables swifts and easy changes to individual software services, which is a different approach to traditional monolithic architectures. With MSA, developers can build and deploy applications using scalable, upgraded, and interchangeable parts.
This modular structure can gear business development by fostering the development of agile and innovative functionality in an ideal world; however, decomposing applications can also mirror some models, unlike a monolithic model.
With the advancement of microservices architecture and hype from ballooned expectations to a progressive enlightenment part, people’s understanding of what it can do has changed. This article will explore what is the use of microservices in Java, alongside its importance for digital transformation and some use cases.
We define microservices as applications that are grouped or arranged as a conglomerate of loosely-coupled services. Here are some general characteristics:
· Every microservice comes with its data model and can manage their individual data
· There is the migration of data between microservices with message busses, like Apache Kafka
· Each microservice is isolated and autonomous, functioning within limited scopes that bring together a single and effective piece of your business functionality
Related: Advantages of Microservices in Java
Understanding the Use of Microservices in Java
Java microservices is a collection of software applications written using the Java programming language. The Java programming languages are structured using a restricted scope that works together to bring about a considerable solution. The use of microservices in Java is, ultimately, to use codes to engage the vast world of Java tools, systems, and frameworks.
The entire microservices are limited in capacity when forming a modularized architecture. We can liken microservices architecture to the assembly line in a manufacturing company. Each microservice is synonymous with a station present in the assembly line.
The way a station takes care of a unique task also applies to a microservice. It is safe to liken each station (microservice) to experts with vast knowledge in their field. This way, efficiency, consistency, quality of workflow, and output are maintained.
How Java Microservices Work
In general, a microservices architecture represents a pattern of design in which each microservice is a small piece of the pie – in this case, the pie is the overall system. All microservices have their unique function, which is essential to the overall result.
The task doesn’t have to be complicated as it could be as simple as estimating the mean deviation in a given set of data or counting the two-letter words in a text. The idea behind a successful microservice is empowering the system to identify and recognize a unique subtask. Since each microservice will need to transfer its data to the next one, the architecture requires a lightweight messaging system for such data transfer.
There are a series of Java-based frameworks used to construct Java microservices. A few examples are:
· Spring Boot: Spring Boot is a well-known framework that helps build Java applications like microservices. It is effective as it makes the setup easy and the user has no issue with the configuration process, which helps kickstart its running.
· Jersey: this unique Java framework helps simplify the formation of REST web services. With this, communication between various microservice layers will be effective.
· Swagger: It helps build API. It is a Java framework that facilitates interaction between various microservices.
Read More: Transform your WebLogic Java Apps to Microservices with vFunction: Webinar Recap.
Benefits and Advantages of Microservices Architecture
For everyone new to the world of microservices, this section gives a brief overview. What is the use of microservices in Java? What benefits will it trigger for your business?
Over the years, microservices and their components have been growing in popularity. Based on research, the global cloud microservices market is predicted to grow up to $1.8 billion over the next couple of years.
Due to the benefits of microservices architecture for application development and databases, it is gaining traction. Typically, microservices architecture converts a large software project into a series of smaller and independent ones that people can easily manage. This feature offers some essential benefits to IT teams and their firms.
For everyone wondering what the use of microservices in Java is, here are some benefits:
1. Productive and Focused Teams
The central idea behind microservices is dividing huge applications into small, manageable units. Each unit will be managed by a small, laser-focused team that takes care of their service and ensures they work with the right technologies, tools, and processes.
Being in charge of a specific function will help the team know what is expected alongside their deliverable timeline. With this, their productivity can also increase.
2. Keeping Tabs on Security
The same system that checks for errors also checks all security issues. As a result, should a section of the application be compromised or experience a security breach, other application areas will not be affected.
This isolation makes it easy to identify issues and take care of them on time without experiencing any downtime.
3. Quick Deployments
Every microservice has its specific process and database which guides its operations. With this, the IT team will be spared from being tied with their team on the progress of other applications. Also, there is no need to delay deploying code until an application is ready.
The microservices teams can organize and structure their deployment for faster project completion. Ultimately, the speed and rate of application deployment also increases.
4. Isolation
Another thing that makes Java microservices profitable is their resilience due to isolation. Any component might fail, but developers need not shut the entire system down.
There is the option of using another service such that the application will run independently. The team can correct any issues without affecting the entire application.
5. Flexibility
With the microservices approach, developers and IT professionals can select the perfect tools to help them with their tasks. Building and equipping each server using the proper framework will be possible without compromising the interaction between such microservices.
6. Improvement in Quality
Since their work involves focused modules, the overall quality of the application system increases with a microservices architecture.
The IT team can focus on essential and well-defined functionality to come up with superb code. With this, they can produce high-quality code that works, making it reliable with the ability to deal with any issues in the code.
7. Scalability
The architecture of microservices hinges on small components; the IT team can quickly scale up or down based on the specific requirements of an element. The isolation feature makes it possible for apps to run independently, even with huge adjustments.
Without a doubt, microservices provide the ideal architecture for firms working with various devices and platforms.
8. Continuous Delivery
Microservices engage cross-functional teams to take care of the whole life cycle of an application with the continuous delivery approach. This is different from monolithic applications requiring dedicated teams to work on various functions like database, server-side logic, user interface, etc.
It becomes pretty easy to test and debug with the simultaneous collaboration of the operation, testing, and development team on a project. This approach makes it easy to have incremental development code, which continuously undergoes testing and deployment.
9. Evolutionary
Developers that cannot predict the nature of the device that will run their app will find microservices architecture helpful. Developers can produce fast updates since the apps will neither be stopped or slowed down.
Even though microservices offer a series of advantages and benefits like upgraded productivity with the selection of tools, there are a couple of cons. For instance, the team needs to use various coding languages and libraries, which might eventually affect the team negatively if unprepared. However, teams and projects working on a vast app will find microservices architecture a terrific choice.
Microservices in Java: When and When Not to Use It
Without a doubt, microservices are extremely lucrative. However, you need to assess the benefits and be confident that they apply to your exact business needs. You also need to be sure you have the workforce to navigate the challenges.
For instance, it is important to know if your components:
· Have manageable technical debt and good test coverage
· Can handle the cloud and its requirement for scalability
· Adjust and have regular deployment
· Trigger continuous frustration
Microservices in Java: When You Should Not Use It
IT teams are usually pretty eager to consider microservices since it appears trendy. However, you shouldn’t use it because it is trendy as it might make your firm a victim of Conway’s Law. According to this law, the architectural structure of the application they develop might have a huge resemblance to the app’s creator, not the specific needs of users.
This is a problem for many firms due to their huge team, as changing the structure is not easy. Adjusting the form and structure of such a huge team to meet new architectural strategies might not be an easy task.
Best Instances to Use Microservices in Java
Rather than simply following something trendy, firms should consider what the use of microservices in Java is geared toward and structure their architecture on the application’s specific needs. In other words, developers need to know exactly what they are trying to achieve – scalability or resilience?
An important reason to consider microservices is to enlarge unique parts of your architecture quickly. When checking your application’s needs, you may realize that the entire app might not be scalable, just the essential parts.
A good example is the payment system connected to the app of Netflix service. Ideally, this system needs to be strong and incredibly scalable so that if thousands of people want to make a payment simultaneously, it is possible to scale it up and accommodate their needs. The payment aspect, without a doubt, needs to be scalable, while another aspect of the app might not have to be scalable.
Conditions for Businesses to Use Microservices
Microservices come with significant benefits, and firms that don’t join the train might miss a lot. Despite how promising microservices are, however, it is not the right fit for all businesses.
You need to ensure your business can manage it before using microservices in Java. Here are some limitations for businesses planning to use it:
1. Strong Monitoring
Since each service has its own personal language, APIs, and platform, you will be in control of various teams working together on various parts of the microservices project. Strong monitoring is essential for effective management and monitoring of the system.
You need to know when a machine fails to track the issue.
2. Ability to Embrace DevOps Culture
Your business needs to embrace DevOps culture and practice to be effective in cross-functional teams. Ideally, developers are charged with features and functionalities while the operation team takes care of challenges in production.
For DevOps, however, everyone is in charge of service provisioning.
3. Testing Can Prove Complicated.
Testing is not so easy or straightforward with microservices. Every service comes with its peculiarities which could be transitive or direct. With the addition of features, there will be new dependencies.
It might be impossible to monitor everything. With increasing services, the complexity also increases. As a result, you need a microservices architecture that can handle every level of fault – network lag, database errors, service unavailability, etc.
Are Microservices in Java Right For You?
It is clear that the use of Microservices in Java can benefit your business immensely. It can move your business to greater heights and the next level. However, this is not a license to jump into it as it might not be the best for your firm.
Ensure you understand if your firm will benefit from microservices and you have all it takes to handle it. Contact an expert to help explore the needs of your business and see if Microservices in Java are right for you. Book a demo with vFunction today to help you understand how it works.
