what is microservices in programming

What do you do when your coding world becomes a mess?

Picture this: you are building a complex mechanical system, such as a sophisticated piece of automated equipment. You are using the best servo motors, and each servo is adjusted just right, but the wiring of the entire system is tangled together, like a box of untangled cables. Want to change a small part? You have to carefully take apart a large piece first, for fear of damaging other parts. Upgrade function? It was more like a scary operation.

In software development, we used to call this kind of giant system "monolithic architecture" that "has an impact on the whole body." It used to be standard practice to package all functionality—user interface, business logic, data access—into one giant program. It was fine at first, but as more and more features were added, it became clunky, sluggish, and difficult to maintain. A small change may require retesting and deploying the entire thing, which is slow and error-prone.

It's like using a giant, single motor to drive an entire production line, rather than equipping each robotic arm with a separate, nimble servo motor. Once the former fails, the entire line will be paralyzed; the latter is flexible, independent and easy to control.

As a result, people began to look for more elegant solutions. This brings us to what we are going to talk about today - microservices.

What exactly are microservices? Simply put, it is "divide and conquer".

It does not make the entire application into a "Big Mac", but splits it into a series of small, autonomous services. Each service is built around a specific business function (such as "user management", "order processing", "payment gateway") and can be independently developed, deployed, and expanded independently.

To use an analogy: your automation project no longer relies on a central brain. Instead, you have a servo unit dedicated to controlling "grab", a servo module responsible for "rotation", and a separate service that manages "conveyor speed". They each have clear responsibilities, communicate with each other through clear, lightweight protocols (just like simple electronic signals), and collaborate to complete complex tasks.

What are the benefits of taking it apart like this? Let's chat casually.

• First, there is resilience.If there is a problem with one service, such as the "payment service" being temporarily stuck, it usually does not bring down the entire system. The user's browsing and shopping cart functions may still be smooth. Just like a robotic arm on a production line needs maintenance, other workstations can temporarily adjust their rhythm and continue working.
• Second, is flexibility.Teams can focus on their own services and use the most suitable technology stack to implement them. Want to upgrade the algorithm of "Search Service"? Just do it without disturbing other parts. This greatly speeds up innovation and iteration.
• Furthermore, it is flexible.Which part has the greatest pressure, add resources to that service alone. For example, if the "image processing service" has a high load during the promotion period, allocate more computing power to it instead of blindly expanding the entire application, which saves money and is efficient.

Sounds good, right? But don’t be in a hurry to applaud, any method has its suitable scenario.

Are microservices a silver bullet? Of course not.

It introduces new complexity. Now you need to manage dozens or even hundreds of services instead of one. Network communication, data consistency, monitoring and debugging between them have become new challenges. It's like managing a vast mechanical array of many independent precision motors, where coordination and communication protocols become critical.

Therefore, it is not suitable for all projects. For a simple personal blog, it may be faster to use a monolithic architecture; but for a large e-commerce platform or financial system, the advantages of microservices will be truly highlighted. The key is whether you really experience the pain of "monolith" - the heaviness of being difficult to maintain, expand, and collaborate.

Choosing to move toward microservices is like choosing the driver components for your core equipment. You need partners who are reliable, precise, and able to work seamlessly together. Each service is like a high-quality servo unit, which is stable, has clear interface and responds quickly.

Deeply engaged in this field,kpowerUnderstand this pursuit of precision, reliability and modularity. Although we focus on motion control in the physical world, the concept of decomposing complex systems into controllable and efficient modules resonates wonderfully in the architectural design of the digital world.

A little random thinking

Architecture is not absolutely good or bad, only whether it fits. When you feel that your code fortress has become deserted and difficult to change, maybe think about those modular units working quietly in the automated workshop. They are independent but also cooperate sincerely to complete a grand picture.

Microservices are not an end, but a means to achieve agile, robust and sustainable evolution. It invites us to build complex systems in a more delicate way, making changes happen more easily. Just like good engineering design, its charm often lies in the ease of simplifying the complex and keeping it orderly.

If your digital project is facing growing pains and feels like you are dealing with an increasingly complex mechanical system, understanding the "modular" thinking of microservices may open a new window. After all, whether it is code or machinery, the art of management often lies in finding the beauty of balance that is both independent and unified.

Established in 2005,kpowerhas been dedicated to a professional compact motion unit manufacturer, headquartered in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, China. Leveraging innovations in modular drive technology,kpowerintegrates high-performance motors, precision reducers, and multi-protocol control systems to provide efficient and customized smart drive system solutions. Kpower has delivered professional drive system solutions to over 500 enterprise clients globally with products covering various fields such as Smart Home Systems, Automatic Electronics, Robotics, Precision Agriculture, Drones, and Industrial Automation.