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Thoughtworks Technology Podcast

Software service granularity: Getting it right

Sep 5, 2024
Dive into the fine line of service granularity in software architecture. Discover how to balance modularity without over-complicating systems. The hosts share insights on the risks of too-small or too-large services and emphasize the importance of feedback in design. Explore the complexities of microservices, including historical challenges and strategies to enhance performance. Learn about iterative design, the significance of data, and the necessity of observability—all crucial for navigating today’s software landscape.
43:38

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Quick takeaways

  • Finding the right balance in service granularity is crucial, as overly small components lead to chaos while larger ones undermine modularity benefits.
  • Incorporating observability from the design phase is essential to enhance system reliability and inform architectural decisions effectively.

Deep dives

Understanding Modularity vs. Granularity

Modularity involves the process of breaking systems into distinct components, while granularity refers to the size of these components. Emphasizing the importance of finding the right balance, making components too small can lead to excessive communication overhead, resembling a chaotic network, whereas overly large components can diminish the benefits gained from modularity. Effective software architecture requires a nuanced understanding of both terms to enhance agility and scalability. The challenge lies in determining an appropriate size for each component, which varies based on context and specific system needs.

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