What is monolith and microservices architecture for non-tech?

Visualize you're a landlord that own two types of properties: a big house (monolith) and an apartment building (microservices). This simple analogy will helps to see the difference between these two ways of building software.

The Big House (Monolith)

Picture a large, beautiful house. This house has everything under one roof: bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room, and even a game room. All your tenants share these spaces.

Benefits of the Big House:

1. Simple to Manage: With everything in one place, maintenance is straightforward. If the heater breaks, you only have one heater to fix.

2. Everyone Together: All your tenants are in the same building, making it easy to share and connect.

3. Quick Fixes: Need to paint or fix the roof? It's a one-time job for the entire house.

Drawbacks of the Big House:

1. Crowded: Too many people can make the house feel cramped and chaotic.

2. One Problem Affects All: If the kitchen sink clogs, everyone has to wait for it to be fixed.

3. Hard to Change: Adding a new room is a big project, disrupting everyone in the house.

The Apartment Building (Microservices)

Now, think about an apartment building. This building has many separate apartments, each with its own bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom. Each tenant enjoys their own space.

Benefits of the Apartment Building:

1. Independent Living: A problem in one apartment, like a broken heater, doesn't affect the others.

2. Easier to Manage Crowds: You can add more apartments without bothering the current tenants.

3. Specialized Spaces: Each apartment can be tailored to the tenant’s needs, like a big kitchen for a cooking enthusiast.

Drawbacks of the Apartment Building:

1. Complex Management: More apartments mean more heaters, sinks, and spaces to maintain.

2. Higher Costs: Managing multiple apartments can be expensive.

3. Communication Needed: Tenants might need to coordinate more to share common areas, like the laundry room.

Which One is Better?

Choosing between a big house (monolith) and an apartment building (microservices) depends on your needs.

- Big House (Monolith): Ideal for keeping things simple and fostering a shared environment. Best for small families or groups.

- Apartment Building (Microservices): Offers more flexibility and independence. Perfect for larger groups or when you expect to grow.

In software development, a big house is like a monolith where everything is integrated in one codebase. An apartment building represents microservices, where each service is separate but part of a cohesive system.

The decision between a monolith and microservices hinges on your specific needs and growth plans. Each has its unique advantages and challenges, much like the choices we make in managing our living spaces.