Four service collaboration patterns: implementing distributed operations

microservice architecture   service collaboration   pattern  

The microservice architecture groups an application’s subdomain into two or more services. As a result, some system operations (e.g user requests) will be distributed across multiple services.

A distributed operation spans two distinct boundaries:

  • transaction boundaries - ACID transactions are local to a service and so the operation consists of multiple eventually consistent transactions. Ensuring ACID-like properties is often a key design consideration.
  • process boundaries - service instances are typically processes and so inter-service communication is potentially expensive. Another design consideration is, therefore, ensuring that the operation is efficient.

A distributed operation must be implemented using one or more of the service collaboration patterns.

The service collaboration patterns

There are two patterns for implementing commands:

There are two patterns for implementing queries:

Design operations using dark energy and dark matter

The dark energy and dark matter forces patterns that shape an architecture drive the selection and application of the service collaboration patterns. Consider, for example, a query that spans multiple services. While the API composition pattern is simpler yet it might not be as performant or available as the CQRS pattern. In other words, #itDepends.

You need to use a design process, such as Assemblage, that carefully considers the dark energy/matter tradeoffs between the patterns for each system operation.

Need help migrating to microservices?

I’m available to help your organization adopt microservices. I provide consulting and workshops.


microservice architecture   service collaboration   pattern  


Copyright © 2024 Chris Richardson • All rights reserved • Supported by Kong.

About Microservices.io

Microservices.io is brought to you by Chris Richardson. Experienced software architect, author of POJOs in Action, the creator of the original CloudFoundry.com, and the author of Microservices patterns.

Upcoming public workshops: Microservices and architecting for fast flow

In-person: Berlin and Milan

DevOps and Team topologies are vital for delivering the fast flow of changes that modern businesses need.

But they are insufficient. You also need an application architecture that supports fast, sustainable flow.

Learn more and register for one of my upcoming public workshops in November.

NEED HELP?

I help organizations improve agility and competitiveness through better software architecture.

Learn more about my consulting engagements, and training workshops.

LEARN about microservices

Chris offers numerous other resources for learning the microservice architecture.

Get the book: Microservices Patterns

Read Chris Richardson's book:

Example microservices applications

Want to see an example? Check out Chris Richardson's example applications. See code

Virtual bootcamp: Distributed data patterns in a microservice architecture

My virtual bootcamp, distributed data patterns in a microservice architecture, is now open for enrollment!

It covers the key distributed data management patterns including Saga, API Composition, and CQRS.

It consists of video lectures, code labs, and a weekly ask-me-anything video conference repeated in multiple timezones.

The regular price is $395/person but use coupon CCMHVSFB to sign up for $95 (valid until November 8th, 2024). There are deeper discounts for buying multiple seats.

Learn more

Learn how to create a service template and microservice chassis

Take a look at my Manning LiveProject that teaches you how to develop a service template and microservice chassis.

Signup for the newsletter


BUILD microservices

Ready to start using the microservice architecture?

Consulting services

Engage Chris to create a microservices adoption roadmap and help you define your microservice architecture,


The Eventuate platform

Use the Eventuate.io platform to tackle distributed data management challenges in your microservices architecture.

Eventuate is Chris's latest startup. It makes it easy to use the Saga pattern to manage transactions and the CQRS pattern to implement queries.


Join the microservices google group