Shifting to microservices can create a run-time problem due to several inherent complexities and challenges associated with this architectural style. Here are the key points to consider:
Increased Latency and Network Overhead
Microservices communicate over a network, often using HTTP or messaging protocols. This introduces latency and network overhead compared to in-process calls within a monolithic application. Each service call can add significant delay, especially if multiple services need to interact to fulfill a single request[1][2][4].
Interface Mismatches and Integration Issues
Microservices rely on well-defined APIs for communication. However, if there are mismatches in these interfaces, such as missing parameters or incorrect data formats, it can lead to run-time errors that are only discovered during integration or production. Unlike monolithic applications where such issues can be caught at compile-time, microservices expose these problems at run-time, making them harder to debug and fix[1][6][14].
Distributed System Complexity
Microservices architecture inherently involves distributed systems, which are complex to manage. Issues such as service discovery, load balancing, and handling partial failures become critical. Each service may have its own logs, making it difficult to trace and debug issues across the system. This complexity can lead to run-time problems that are challenging to diagnose and resolve[6][9][10].
Data Consistency and Transaction Management
Maintaining data consistency across multiple services is a significant challenge. Traditional ACID transactions are difficult to implement in a distributed environment, leading to eventual consistency models that can cause run-time issues if not managed properly. For example, a failure in one service during a multi-step transaction can leave the system in an inconsistent state[7][14][17].
Increased Operational Overhead
Microservices require robust monitoring, logging, and tracing mechanisms to ensure that the system is functioning correctly. The operational overhead of managing these aspects can be substantial, and any gaps in monitoring can lead to undetected run-time issues that affect the system's reliability and performance[6][12][16].
Security Challenges
Each microservice exposes an additional attack surface, and securing these services can be complex. Ensuring secure communication, managing authentication and authorization, and prot...
