Microservices and APIs. How to build optimal software for your business? | Digitizing your business #15

Microservices and APIs are tools that are revolutionarily changing the way software is designed and implemented. Comparing them to LEGO bricks, we can say that microservices are individual pieces from which we can build different models. Each microservice plays its own role and is independent of the others, allowing us to easily add and remove elements from the whole. Thus, microservices allow us to create software with great modularity and flexibility. Read on to find out more.

Microservices and APIs – table of contents:

1. Introduction
2. What are microservices?
3. What is an API?
4. How to build scalable and effective microservices and APIs?
5. How do microservices and APIs contribute to digital transformation?
6. Summary

Introduction

APIs, on the other hand, act as connectors between microservices, much like the pieces that connect different parts of LEGO bricks. It’s thanks to them that various microservices can communicate with each other and exchange information, creating a cooperative, fairly cohesive system. Just like LEGO bricks, APIs allow different parts to be connected and disconnected, enabling the system to be modified as needed. In this way, APIs let you easily scale and expand the system, without rebuilding it completely.

For entrepreneurs who want to apply microservices and APIs in their company, several important aspects are worth paying attention to. First of all, it is crucial to properly design the system architecture so that microservices are independent and can freely interact with each other through APIs. We will take a closer look at this approach by answering the question as to what benefits we can gain by applying microservices and APIs to our business.

What are microservices?

Creating microservices is a method of software design that involves dividing an application into numerous independent, small and manageable parts. Together, they form a complete system. However, each microservice plays a strictly defined role and can operate in isolation from the other components. Their cooperation with each other allows them to carry out designated tasks necessary to achieve set business goals. These can be, for example:

• Online payment service – running in a store, on a training platform, or on a startup website offering SaaS services. It is independent of other elements of the system and is able to process payments in real time.
• User analytics – can run in the background, collect and analyze data, and then process it for business needs, for example, providing product recommendations in e-commerce.
• Authentication and authorization system – it works independently of other elements of the system and allows users to log in securely to any business page.

Microservices emerged as a response to so-called “monoliths.” The monolithic approach is a software architecture where the entire application is developed and implemented as one cohesive block of code. In this approach, all components of the application are integrated and run in a single process.

In comparison with the traditional monolithic approach, microservices offer greater flexibility, faster implementation of changes, easier system scaling, and the ability to use services from different providers.

What is an API?

An API stands for Application Programming Interface. APIs enable communication between various:

• microservices,
• applications, and
• entire systems.

Thanks to APIs, various microservices can exchange information and cooperate with each other. For example, a customer authorization system in a store can remember online payment data.

Currently, the most popular approach to creating APIs is the Representational State Transfer (REST) architecture, whose basic principles are based on simplicity, scalability and flexibility. REST is a way of organizing communication on the web that allows different computer systems to work together in a simple and efficient way.

An example of using REST is creating web services that allow information to be exchanged between different applications. For an entrepreneur, using the REST architecture means that their IT systems can easily integrate with third-party services, which can help increase efficiency and save time. In practice, REST enables the use of existing standards and technologies, such as the HTTP protocol, to create a simple, scalable and reliable communication system.

How to build scalable and effective microservices and APIs?

To build scalable and effective microservices and APIs, it’s worth following a few proven practices:

• Ensure independence of microservices – each microservice should be independent and have its own database, which allows for easier management and updates.
• Use standardized protocols and formats – make sure standard protocols (e.g., HTTP, HTTPS) and formats (e.g., JSON, XML) are used to facilitate communication.
• Monitor and control the API – to ensure the quality and reliability of the API, regularly monitor and control its work and performance.
• Use authentication and authorization mechanisms – secure your APIs by using appropriate authentication (e.g., OAuth 2.0) and authorization mechanisms to control access to data and services.
• Create documentation – even if your company doesn’t have an IT team, try to make sure you have documentation on microservices and APIs so you understand how your company’s solutions work and, in case you need to hire developers, let them maintain, maintain and develop the system.
• Introduce test and implementation automation – microservices and APIs enable you to use automation tools – not only for workflow, but also for testing and implementation (e.g., CI/CD). This ensures quick error detection and efficient system updates.

How do microservices and APIs contribute to digital transformation?

Implementing microservices and APIs can bring many benefits to an organization. They help to obtain:

• Flexibility – microservices enable faster changes, making the system more flexible and easily adaptable to changing business needs.
• Scalability – thanks to its modular structure, microservices can be easily scaled, which allows the system to develop quickly and increase its performance.
• Reliability – damaging one service that performs a specific task has less impact on the entire system, making the system more fault-tolerant.
• Easier management – splitting the system into smaller, independent parts makes it easier to manage, update and maintain.
• Team collaboration – by using APIs, different teams can work together on system development, which contributes to better communication and work efficiency.

Summary

Microservices and APIs are key elements of digital transformation. Introducing this approach to software design makes it possible to build flexible, scalable and efficient systems that are easy to manage and maintain. Their implementation contributes to more effective collaboration between teams and faster implementation of changes, which is essential in today’s dynamic technological world.

To be successful in implementing microservices and APIs, it is crucial to:

• Plan thoroughly – before the implementation, carefully analyze business requirements, system architecture and resources to ensure that the specific solution is right for your organization.
• Constantly improve – as your organization grows, ensure that you optimize APIs and select the latest solutions to maintain quality and performance. Customers are more and more aware of the risks associated with using outdated software.
• Monitor and control – regularly analyze the operation and performance of microservices and APIs to detect potential problems early and make appropriate changes quickly. Think about what happens when payments stop working in your store.
• Take care of security – pay attention to data and service security, using appropriate authentication and authorization mechanisms to protect your systems from potential threats.

Remember that implementing microservices and connecting them using APIs is a process that requires time, commitment and skills. However, their scalability and convenience of use are worth the effort.

If you like our content, join our busy bees community on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, TikTok.