603 ASSG 1 MICRO SERVICES

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 1/8

MODULE 1 TOPIC 1 RESOURCES AND ACTIVITIESMODULE 1 TOPIC 1 RESOURCES AND ACTIVITIES

From service-oriented to microservice architecture

Introduction:

It would be remiss not to make some form of reference to Monoliths and monolithic

architecture in the introduction of this material, as microservices are frequently

designed and developed to replace monolithic platforms and we will be reviewing

techniques to manage this process over the duration of this subject. One of the key

cornerstones of software engineering relates to determining sound principles of

software architecture. Understanding the role of the architect and decision-making is

covered in the essential resources, as is the concepts of monoliths and monolithic

architectures and their innate challenges. This is to ensure that you have a basis of

comparison and frame of reference for later topics.

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 2/8

The emergence of web services and communication models leveraging APIs was a

step change in the principles of software engineering architecture. This heralded the

emergence of a service-based architecture model otherwise known as service-

oriented architecture. The fundamental concepts of service-oriented architecture are

covered in support of developing an understanding how single-tiered systems

evolved into multi-tiered solutions before the revolutionary paradigm shift to

microservices architectures. It is important to note that while both service-oriented

architecture and microservices architecture are considered service-based

architectures there are very speci�c di�erences between these methods. While both

focus on the creation of services, microservices architecture is a far more �ne-grained

approach to software development. As we progress through the subject, we will

discuss how microservices architecture has changed the face of software engineering

particularly in environments that require rapid scalability and demands continuous

development and deployment.

Resources and Activities:

What is software architecture?

Please watch the following video from the Software Architecture

Foundations series:

Introduction - What is software architecture? (3m 54s)

In this short video clip, you are introduced to the fundamentals of software

architecture. It has an interesting analogy about what architects do and

how they describe entire systems that helps businesses achieve their goals

and objectives in an e�cient and e�ective manner by tailoring them to their

use.

Reference:

Holub, A. (2019, March 19). Introduction: What is software architecture?

[Video �le]. Retrieved from https://www.linkedin.com/learning-login/share?

forceAccount=false&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Flearning%

architecture-foundations%3Ftrk%3Dshare_ent_url&account=56744473

(https://www.linkedin.com/learning-login/share?

forceAccount=false&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Flearning%

architecture-foundations%3Ftrk%3Dshare_ent_url&account=56744473)

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 3/8

Monoliths

Please watch the following video from the Software architecture

foundations series:

5.Broad architectural patterns: Monoliths (6m 48s)

In this short video clip, you are introduced to the concept of monolithic

systems which have a monolithic software architecture. As past systems

were dominated by monolithic architectural patterns, this video clip helps

you to understand what monolithic architectural patterns are and their

bene�ts and drawbacks. It is important for you to understand this concept

from a comparative perspective as while software architecture is evolving,

monolithic systems remain as core systems within many businesses, and it

is likely that you will be professionally active in businesses that either

remain dependent on these systems, or who are in transition to newer

forms of software architecture.

Reference:

Holub, A. (2019, March 19). Broad architectural patterns: Monoliths [Video

�le]. Retrieved from https://www.linkedin.com/learning-login/share?

forceAccount=false&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Flearning%

architecture-foundations%3Ftrk%3Dshare_ent_url&account=56744473

(https://www.linkedin.com/learning-login/share?

forceAccount=false&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Flearning%

architecture-foundations%3Ftrk%3Dshare_ent_url&account=56744473)

The monolithic application

Please watch the following video from the Microservices Foundations

series:

1.About microservices: The monolithic application (4m 7s)

This short video clip introduces you to some of the key challenges

associated with monolithic applications when updates or changes are

required to existing functionality. Please pay speci�c attention to the

reasons for in�exibility of these systems and why these present challenges

for developers that impact on speed to market and deployments of new

code.

Reference:

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 4/8

Molley, F. (2018, February 9). About microservices: The monolithic

application [Video �le]. Retrieved from https://www.linkedin.com/learning-

login/share?

forceAccount=false&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Flearning%

foundations%3Ftrk%3Dshare_ent_url&account=56744473

(https://www.linkedin.com/learning-login/share?

forceAccount=false&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Flearning%

foundations%3Ftrk%3Dshare_ent_url&account=56744473)

Service-oriented Architecture: Introduction

Please read the preface and introduction on pages 1-3. In this short reading

you are introduced to the two service-based architectures: service-oriented

architecture and microservices architecture. It has an interesting section on

what service-oriented architecture is, why it is implemented and why there

has been a shift from monolithic applications. While there are references to

distributed object-oriented programming models – understanding these is

not key to understanding service-oriented and microservices architecture.

Pay particular attention to is a high-level de�nition of service-based

architecture models.

Reference:

Surianarayanan, C., Ganapathy, G., & Pethuru, R. (2019). Essentials of

microservices architecture: Paradigms, applications, and techniques.

Florida, USA: Taylor & Francis Group. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral-

proquest-com.ezproxy.laureate.net.au/lib/think/reader.action?

docID=5883406&ppg=23 (https://ebookcentral-proquest-

com.ezproxy.laureate.net.au/lib/think/reader.action?

docID=5883406&ppg=23)

Concepts of Service-Oriented Architecture

Please read pp. 10 - 12. In this short reading you are introduced to the key

concepts of service-oriented architecture. It has an interesting section on

why service-oriented architecture can meet di�erent needs within an

enterprise. Pay attention to the 5 reasons why enterprises would gain

bene�t from service-oriented architecture and why integration between

applications o�ers value to enterprises.

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 5/8

Reference:

Surianarayanan, C., Ganapathy, G., & Pethuru, R. (2019). Essentials of

microservices architecture: Paradigms, applications, and techniques.

Florida, USA: Taylor & Francis Group. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral-

proquest-com.ezproxy.laureate.net.au/lib/think/reader.action?

docID=5883406&ppg=23 (https://ebookcentral-proquest-

com.ezproxy.laureate.net.au/lib/think/reader.action?

docID=5883406&ppg=23)

Microservices 101

Please watch the following video from Cloud architecture: Advanced

concepts series:

2.Leveraging microservices architecture: Microservices 101 (3m 16s)

This video clip gives you insights into what microservices are and how they

support business functions. It discusses how microservices have high utility

and use communications calls to fetch required information from a variety

of services. The speci�c inclusion of this video is to help you understand

how microservices are �exible and decomposed services that belong either

to applications or services that allow functions to be performed.

Reference:

Linthicum, D. (2019, January 23). Leveraging microservices architecture:

Microservices 101. [Video �le]. Retrieved from

https://www.linkedin.com/learning-login/share?

forceAccount=false&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Flearning%

architecture-advanced-concepts-

2%3Ftrk%3Dshare_ent_url&account=56744473

(https://www.linkedin.com/learning-login/share?

forceAccount=false&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Flearning%

architecture-advanced-concepts-

2%3Ftrk%3Dshare_ent_url&account=56744473)

A Solution Approach

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 6/8

Please read section pp. 1 - 12. In this short reading you are introduced to

how microservices have evolved, transforming from service-oriented

architecture and as a response to the limitations of monolithic

architectures. The diagrams of page 6 and 7 give you clear insights as to the

core di�erences between these architectural approaches, and this requires

particular attention.

Reference:

Sharma, S., RV, R., & Gonzalez, D. (2016). Microservices: Building Scalable

Software. Birmingham, UK: Packt Publishing. Retrieved from

http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.laureate.net.au/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=1460302&site=ehost-

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

(http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.laureate.net.au/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=1460302&site=ehost-

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

Additional Learning Resources

If you would like to learn more about the topics covered in this module, here are

some additional resources. These resources will contribute to further develop

your understanding of the topics covered. However, these resources are not

essential to complete this module or the assessments associated with this

subject.

Web Services

Please read the introductory paragraph on p. 13 and the section on the

unique capabilities of web services on pp. 15 – 16 and the section ‘Why Do

We Need Web Services’ on pp. 16-18. This short reading is to ensure that

you have a basis of understanding of how web services support

communications between applications. You will develop knowledge in that

will form a basis of comparison between communications models in web

services vs. microservices.

Reference:

Surianarayanan, C., Ganapathy, G., & Pethuru, R. (2019). Essentials of

microservices architecture: Paradigms, applications, and techniques.

Florida, USA: Taylor & Francis Group. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral-

proquest-com.ezproxy.laureate.net.au/lib/think/reader.action?

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 7/8

docID=5883406&ppg=23 (https://ebookcentral-proquest-

com.ezproxy.laureate.net.au/lib/think/reader.action?

docID=5883406&ppg=23)

Seven reasons to switch to microservices – and 5 reasons you might not succeed.

While microservices may sound like a panacea for many of the challenges

posed by monolithic systems and their rigid architectures, microservices

can be complex and the transition will require careful thought. This article

speaks to some of the practical challenges of shifting to a microservices

software architecture. Please note, this will o�er you key departure points

for your assignment.

Reference:

Bertram, A. (2017, June). Seven reasons to switch to microservices – and 5

reasons you might not succeed. CIO. Retrieved from

https://www.cio.com/article/3201193/7-reasons-to-switch-to-microservices-

and-5-reasons-you-might-not-succeed.html

(https://www.cio.com/article/3201193/7-reasons-to-switch-to-

microservices-and-5-reasons-you-might-not-succeed.html)

Microservices: �rst break down monolithic thinking, then monolithic applications

This article o�ers insights into how connectivity and communications

between microservices is vital for their function and how a shift to

microservices not only changes how the organisation architects its

software, but also changes corporate culture by requiring a more Agile

organisation – this will tie in to further discussions about DevOps and agile

software development practice in later modules.

Reference:

McKendrick, J. (2018, March 27). Microservices: �rst break down monolithic

thinking, then monolithic applications. ZDNet. Retrieved from

https://www.zdnet.com/article/manual-database-deployment-processes-

inhibits-application-delivery/ (https://www.zdnet.com/article/manual-

database-deployment-processes-inhibits-application-delivery/)

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 8/8

Learning Activity 1: Introduce yourself

Learning Activity: 2 Microservices architecture: Service-oriented or

monolithic architecture? - Discussion forum post

Collaborative learning activity – Amazon

Note: The Learning activities above are not part of summative/graded assessment;

however they are designed to prepare you for incremental graded assessment and

expand your learning.

These activities encourage a community learning experience between peers, and

provide opportunities for facilitators to o�er formative feedback, throughout a

module, to the student cohort.