Microservices Architecture All MIS603

6/3/2020 Laureate International Universities

https://laureate-au.blackboard.com/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_89956_1&content_id=_8971654_1&mode=reset 1/4

MODULE 1 INTRODUCTIONMODULE 1 INTRODUCTION

Monoliths, clouds and microservices – an evolution

Introduction:

In the beginning, systems were traditionally constructed of di�erent components of

an application combined into a program built on a single uni�ed platform in one

programming language. This was the world of central servers, even mainframes,

usually on premise or in a company’s own data centre using languages like COBOL, C

or Assembler. These systems are now known as Monoliths with monolithic

architecture. With monoliths, a single program ensures that the application does what

it needs to. Something to bear in mind is that this was simply how things were done –

developers needed to understand how di�erent parts of the system inter-related as

components were tightly coupled and a single change might require updates to

multiple areas of code, and as systems got bigger and more complex so did the task

of maintaining the code base. However, there were bene�ts too – being self-

6/3/2020 Laureate International Universities

https://laureate-au.blackboard.com/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_89956_1&content_id=_8971654_1&mode=reset 2/4

contained, single tiered software applications ensured no reliance on cross network

communications routines and less concerns about network security.

Over time software development architectures evolved, �rstly to client/server

architecture as networks began to evolve, and then further to service-oriented

architectures. This is where services, or self-contained programs, were designed to

run on their own, independent of other components. The advent of the internet

prompted the evolution of web services where programs could be invoked via the

internet. This allowed for multi-tiered architectures where di�erent parts of the

system could be distributed across di�erent computers.

Inevitably, innovation drives change and over time microservices architecture has

emerged in a new wave of software engineering techniques. Evolving from the

principles embodied in service-oriented architecture, a new wave of service-based

architecture emerged in the form of microservices architecture. Microservices

architecture is considered to be a cloud-native approach to software engineering. The

shift to cloud computing has allowed for the emergence of microservices architecture.

Ruparelia (2016, p 17) de�nes the characteristics of cloud computing as: broad

network access, on-demand self-service, resource pooling and virtualization, rapid

elasticity and measured service. And, it is broad network access that has allowed

microservices to use RESTful communications to call information via APIs. However,

we will explore this in far greater depth over the duration of this subject.

References

IBM Cloud. (2019, February 26). What are microservices? [Video �le]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/CdBtNQZH8a4

IBM Cloud Education. (2019, October 23). Microservices. Retrieved from https://www.ibm.com/cloud/learn/microservices

Ruparelia, N. (2016). Cloud Computing. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.laureate.net.au/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=1238001&site=ehost-

live&authtype=ip,sso&custid=ns251549&ebv=EB&ppid=pp_3

Stephens, R. (2015). Beginning software engineering (Wrox : programmer to programmer). Indianapolis, IN: John Wiley & Sons. (2015). Retrieved from https://ebookcentral-proquest-

com.ezproxy.laureate.net.au/lib/think/reader.action?docID=1895174&ppg=151

Stephens, R. (2015). Beginning software engineering (Wrox : programmer to programmer). Indianapolis, IN: John Wiley & Sons. (2015). Retrieved from https://ebookcentral-proquest-

com.ezproxy.laureate.net.au/lib/think/reader.action?docID=1895174&ppg=129

Wu, A. (n.d.). Taking a Cloud-native approach with Microservices. Retrieved from https://cloud.google.com/�les/Cloud-native-approach-with-microservices.pdf

This Module will cover:

6/3/2020 Laureate International Universities

https://laureate-au.blackboard.com/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_89956_1&content_id=_8971654_1&mode=reset 3/4

Module 1.1 – From service-oriented to microservice architecture

Module 1.2 – Principles and key concepts of microservices

This Module will help you achieve the following outcomes:

a) Undertake research to demonstrate an understanding of microservices and how they contribute to business process.

b) Discuss core concepts of microservices architecture within a context of a business case study and summarise the advantages and disadvantages of adopting microservices architecture.

c) Communicate the bene�ts of microservices architecture to a diverse stakeholder audience by addressing complex business needs and aligning strategies to business priorities de�ned by changing business requirements.

Time Management:

Your workload expectation is 20 hours for this module.

12 Week Delivery:

20 hours per module (two weeks): facilitated study: 3 hours / week. Personal Study: 7 hours / week.

3 hours facilitated study consists of attending class, responding to facilitator feedback.

You are to allocate 7 hours of personal learning. This includes essential time spent on pre-reading and viewing materials, assessment progression and learning activities.

Assessment Progression:

Assessment 1 – Part A is due at the end of Module 2.2 (Week 4). Please refer to the

assessment briefs in the assessment area for more detail.

Tasks to undertake in this module to prepare for Assessment 1 – Part A include:

All learning activities that form part of Module 1.1 and 1.2

Viewing the learning resources that have been included in essential resources

Completing the readings in essential resources

Reviewing items in additional resources – while they are not essential, they will o�er you context base insights which will allow you to develop thinking that will

6/3/2020 Laureate International Universities

https://laureate-au.blackboard.com/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_89956_1&content_id=_8971654_1&mode=reset 4/4

prepare you to understand contemporary industry and workplace challenges.

Class Expectation:

You are expected to have worked through the essential learning resources and activities for this module before attending the facilitated session (face to face or online session) – this enables informed discussion and full participation in learning activities.

Participate in all scheduled facilitated sessions.

This time is intended to be used by you and your learning facilitator to work through activities and engage in discussion about the module content.

These sessions provide a space for you to raise questions about the module content and seek guidance on writing your assessments.

You will review, explore and discuss more deeply the information presented in the learning resources.