🔧 Evolution of Software Architecture: From Monoliths to Microservices and Beyond

In the vast and ever-evolving domain of software development, the architecture of software systems stands as a pivotal aspect, shaping not only how applications are built and maintained but also how they adapt to changing technological landscapes and business needs. This paper embarks on an exploratory journey through the evolution of software architecture, tracing its progression from the early days of monolithic designs to the contemporary era of microservices and serverless architectures. We delve into the fundamental shifts in architectural patterns, examining how each has been influenced by and has responded to the advancements in technology, the growing complexity of applications, and the evolving requirements of businesses.

Our exploration begins with monolithic architectures, the bedrock of early software development, characterized by their unified and indivisible nature. We then transition to modular designs, heralding a new era of software architecture that emphasizes separation of concerns and encapsulation. Following this, we explore the emergence of Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA), a paradigm shift that underscores service reuse and interoperability. The narrative progresses to the rise of microservices architecture, a fine-grained approach building on the principles of SOA but with a greater emphasis on independence and scalability. Our journey extends to the realm of serverless computing, a paradigm that further abstracts and simplifies (or not ?) architectural complexities.