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Granularity and Communication in Microservices Architectures
Many teams understand how to structure microservices but struggle with how those services should communicate. The result is often a distributed “Big Ball of Mud.” In this session, Neal Ford introduces the concept of the architecture quantum, a unit of architectural measurement that helps identify communication boundaries and define both static and dynamic coupling.
Attendees will learn practical techniques for finding the right level of service granularity using integrators and disintegrators, tools for iterating toward optimal service boundaries. The session also explores how to make informed decisions about synchronous versus asynchronous communication, balancing consistency, coordination, and transactional behavior. Finally, Neal discusses eight distinct saga patterns and how to apply each effectively in distributed systems.
What You Will Learn
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How to use architecture quanta to identify service boundaries and measure coupling
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Techniques for determining the right microservice granularity using integrators and disintegrators
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How to choose between synchronous and asynchronous communication models
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When and how to apply different saga patterns for distributed transactions
Who Should Attend
Software architects, senior developers, and engineering leaders designing or evolving microservice-based systems who want to improve communication, coordination, and service granularity.
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About the speaker
Neal Ford
Software Architect & Meme Wrangler, ThoughtWorks
Neal is Director, Software Architect, and Meme Wrangler at Thoughtworks, a software company and a community of passionate, purpose-led individuals, who thinks disruptively to deliver technology to address the toughest challenges, all while seeking to revolutionize the IT industry and create positive social change. Before joining ThoughtWorks, Neal was the Chief Technology Officer at The DSW Group, Ltd., a nationally recognized training and development firm.
Neal has a degree in Computer Science from Georgia State University specializing in languages and compilers and a minor in mathematics specializing in statistical analysis. He is an internationally recognized expert on software development and delivery, especially in the intersection of agile engineering techniques and software architecture. Neal authored magazine articles, nine books (and counting), dozens of video presentations, and spoken at hundreds of developers conferences worldwide. His topics include software architecture, continuous delivery, functional programming, cutting edge software innovations, and includes a business-focused book and video in improving technical presentations. His primary consulting focus is the design and construction of large-scale enterprise applications. If you have an insatiable curiosity about Neal, visit his web site at nealford.com.
