Monolith vs Microservices in .NET Core
1. Monolithic Architecture
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Definition: A single, unified codebase where all modules (UI, business logic, data access) are part of one large application.
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Deployment: Deployed as a single unit (e.g., one
.exeor.dll). -
Scaling: Scales by cloning the entire application (vertical/horizontal scaling).
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Communication: Internal method calls (no network).
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Tech Stack: Typically limited to a single framework/runtime.
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Example in .NET Core:
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An ASP.NET Core MVC app with controllers, services, and EF Core all in the same project.
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Single database, one codebase, deployed to IIS/Kestrel.
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2. Microservices Architecture
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Definition: A collection of small, independent services, each responsible for a specific business function.
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Deployment: Each service runs independently (often in Docker containers).
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Scaling: Scale individual services based on demand.
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Communication: Via APIs (REST, gRPC, message queues).
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Tech Stack: Each service can use different frameworks/languages (polyglot).
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Example in .NET Core:
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Separate Order Service, Payment Service, User Service.
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Each service is its own ASP.NET Core Web API with its own database (Database-per-service).
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Uses API Gateway (Ocelot/YARP) for routing.
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Runs in Docker & Kubernetes.
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🔹 Key Differences
| Feature | Monolith (.NET Core) | Microservices (.NET Core) |
|---|---|---|
| Codebase | Single, large project | Multiple smaller projects (per service) |
| Deployment | One unit | Independent deployments |
| Scalability | Entire app must scale | Scale only required service |
| Database | Usually one shared DB | Separate DB per service (Database-per-service pattern) |
| Technology | One stack (e.g., only .NET Core + SQL Server) | Polyglot (C#, Node.js, Python, SQL/NoSQL) |
| Communication | In-process calls | REST, gRPC, Message Bus (RabbitMQ, Kafka, Azure SB) |
| Fault Isolation | A bug can crash whole app | Failures isolated to one service |
| DevOps | Easier to deploy | Requires CI/CD pipelines, containers, orchestration |
| Best For | Small/medium apps with simple domain | Large, complex, high-scale, distributed systems |
🔹 When to Use What?
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✅ Monolith:
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Small to medium apps.
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Simple business logic.
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Quick delivery required.
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Team size is small.
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✅ Microservices:
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Large enterprise systems.
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Need for independent scaling & deployments.
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Multiple teams working on different modules.
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Cloud-native, containerized solutions.
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💡 Interview Tip:
If asked in an interview, explain the trade-offs:
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Monolith is simpler but harder to scale/maintain as it grows.
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Microservices bring scalability and flexibility but add complexity in communication, monitoring, and DevOps.
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