Performance evaluation of microservices featuring different implementation patterns

Abstract

The process of migrating from a monolithic to a microservices based architecture is currently described as a form of modernizing applications. The core principles of microservices, which mostly reside in achieving loose coupling between the services, highly depend on the implementation approaches used. Being microservices a complete change of paradigm that contrasts with the traditional way of developing software, the current lack of established principles often results in implementations that conflict with its alleged benefits. Given its distributed nature, performance is affected, but specific implementation patterns can further impact it. This paper aims to address the impact that microservices-based solutions, featuring different implementation patterns, have on performance and how it compares with monolithic applications. To do so, benchmarks are conducted over one application developed following a traditional monolithic approach, and two equivalent microservices-based implementations featuring distinct inter-service communication mechanisms and data management methodologies.