application architecture   refactoring to microservices   microservices adoption  

Refactoring a monolith to microservices

Truly greenfield development of microservices-based applications is relatively rare. Many organizations that want to adopt microservices already have a monolithic application. As I describe in chapter 13 of my book, the recommended approach is to use the Strangler application pattern and incrementally migrate function from the monolith into services.

Presentations on refactoring

These presentations are good overviews:

About the FTGO monolith

The FTGO monolith (see source code) is the monolithic version of the microservices-based FTGO application. Its goal is to demonstrate how to refactor a monolithic application into services using the Stranger pattern. It’s used as an example in both my book and in my presentations about refactoring.

Refactoring strategies

Chapter 13 of my book describes how to refactor a monolith to microservices. There are two main refactoring strategies:

  • Implement new functionality as services
  • Extract services from the monolith

Let’s look at each one.

Implement new functionality as services

A good way to begin the migration to microservices is to implement significant new functionality as services. This is sometimes easier than breaking apart of the monolith. It also demonstrates to the business that using microservices significantly accelerates software delivery.

Extract services from the monolith

While implementing new functionality as services is extremely useful, the only way of eliminating the monolith is to incrementally extract modules out of the monolith and convert them into services. Here is an example of extracting a service from a monolith.

Signup to get notified

Signup to get notified when more content is added to this page.


application architecture   refactoring to microservices   microservices adoption  


Copyright © 2023 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.

Chris helps organizations improve agility and competitiveness through better software architecture. Learn more about his consulting engagements, and training workshops.

PREMIUM CONTENT

Premium content and office hours is now available for paid subscribers at premium.microservices.io.

MICROSERVICES WORKSHOPS

Chris teaches comprehensive workshops for architects and developers that will enable your organization use microservices effectively.

Avoid the pitfalls of adopting microservices and learn essential topics, such as service decomposition and design and how to refactor a monolith to microservices.

Learn more

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

Remote consulting session

Got a specific microservice architecture-related question? For example:

  • Wondering whether your organization should adopt microservices?
  • Want to know how to migrate your monolith to microservices?
  • Facing a tricky microservice architecture design problem?

Consider signing up for a two hour, highly focussed, consulting session.

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 KQAWEXBH to sign up for $120 (valid until November 21st, 2023). 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.

ASSESS your architecture

Assess your application's microservice architecture and identify what needs to be improved.

Consulting services

Engage Chris to conduct an architectural assessment.



Join the microservices google group

Topics

Note: tagging is work-in-process

Microservices adoption   ·  ancient lore   ·  anti-patterns   ·  application api   ·  application architecture   ·  architecting   ·  architecture   ·  architecture documentation   ·  assemblage   ·  beer   ·  books   ·  containers   ·  dark energy and dark matter   ·  deployment   ·  design-time coupling   ·  developer experience   ·  development   ·  devops   ·  docker   ·  eventuate platform   ·  generative AI   ·  glossary   ·  health   ·  hexagonal architecture   ·  implementing commands   ·  implementing queries   ·  inter-service communication   ·  kubernetes   ·  loose coupling   ·  microservice architecture   ·  microservice chassis   ·  microservices adoption   ·  microservicesio updates   ·  modular monolith   ·  multi-architecture docker images   ·  observability   ·  pattern   ·  refactoring to microservices   ·  resilience   ·  sagas   ·  security   ·  service api   ·  service architecture   ·  service collaboration   ·  service design   ·  service discovery   ·  service granularity   ·  service template   ·  software delivery metrics   ·  success triangle   ·  tacos   ·  team topologies   ·  transaction management   ·  transactional messaging

All content


Posts

24 Jul 2017 » Revised data patterns