Microservices are increasingly used in the development world as developers work to create larger, more complex applications that are better developed and managed as a combination of smaller services that work cohesively together for more extensive, application-wide functionality.
Tools such as Service Fabric are rising to meet the need to think about and build apps using a piece-by-piece methodology that is, frankly, less mind-boggling than considering the whole of the application at once.
Java x Microservices
In the Java language, microservices have a special meaning. By now, monolithic-style web applications written in Java are old-fashioned. Nevertheless, it is better to have a valuable, successful application that was built as a monolith than not deliver business value at all. Microservices are a form of SOA, and SOA is one of the most important skills for Java developers. For more additional info java Online Course
Due to the loosely coupled nature of microservices, it is imperative to find a way of managing each address without strenuous coding. Building microservices in the Java ecosystem include container-less, self-contained, and in-container strategies.
Container-less microservices
Container-less microservices package the application, with all its dependencies into a single JAR file. The advantages of this approach include the ease of starting and stopping services as needed when scaling. It is also extremely convenient to pass around a JAR file to the team members that need it.
Self-contained microservices
Self-contained microservices also are packaged into a single fat JAR file, but these also include an embedded framework with optional compatible third-party libraries like Spring Boot and Wildfly Swarm.
In-container microservices
Lastly, in-container microservices package an entire Java EE Container and its service implementation in a Docker image. The container provides verified implementations through standard APIs. This gives your developer the leeway to focus directly on business functionality. Learn more skills from learn java Online
Examples of Microservices Frameworks for Java
There are several microservices frameworks that you can use for developing for Java. Some of these are:
- Spring Boot. Easily one of the best Java microservices frameworks, Spring Boot integrates optimally with other supporting languages.
- Spark Framework. Spark is a free and open-source software web application framework and domain-specific language written in Java. It runs on an embedded Jetty web server by default but can be configured to run on other web servers.
- Swagger. This framework with the coolest name helps your developers document API. Swagger also gives you a development portal, which allows users to test your APIs.
- Dropwizard. Dropwizard pulls together mature and stable Java libraries in lightweight packages that you can use for your own applications.
- Play Framework. Play Framework offers an easier way to build, create and deploy Web applications using Scala and Java. Play Framework also has one of the biggest communities out of all microservices frameworks.
- Jersey. This open-source framework supports JAX-RS APIs in Java and is very easy to use.
- Restlet. Restlet helps developers create fast and scalable Web APIs that adhere to the RESTful architecture pattern. It has good routing and filtering and is available for many major platforms.
- Restx. This lightweight, modular, feature-rich, incredibly fast open-source Java REST framework is a great framework for microservices.
Challenges with Microservice Architectures
While developing a number of smaller components might look easy, there are a number of inherent complexities that are associated with microservices architectures.
Let's look at some of the challenges:
- Quick Setup needed: You cannot spend a month setting up each microservice. You should be able to create microservices quickly.
- Automation: Because there are a number of smaller components instead of a monolith, you need to automate everything - Builds, Deployment, Monitoring etc.
- Visibility: You now have a number of smaller components to deploy and maintain. Maybe 100 or maybe 1000 components. You should be able to monitor and identify problems automatically. You need great visibility around all the components.
- Bounded Context: Deciding the boundaries of a microservice is not an easy task. Bounded Contexts from Domain Driven Design is a good starting point. Your understanding of the domain evolves over a period of time. You need to ensure that the microservice boundaries evolve.
- Configuration Management: You need to maintain configurations for hundreds of components across environments. You would need a Configuration Management solution
What are the Benefits of Microservices?
There are many benefits to using microservices. Some of them are related to how they allow your developers to write code. Other influence your architecture.
Microservices are small applications that your development teams create independently. Since they communicate via messaging if at all, they’re not dependent on the same coding language. Developers can use the programming language that they’re most familiar with. This helps them come to work faster, with lower costs and fewer bugs.
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