Explain the difference between Microservices and Monolith in .NET Core.

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ICSM Computer · Answer

Monolithic Architecture
A Monolith is a single unified application that contains all business logic, UI, and data access in one codebase and typically runs as a single process.
Characteristics:
All features/modules are tightly coupledDeployed as a single unit (e.g., one .dll or .exe)Typically uses one shared database
Example in .NET Core:
A .NET Core Web API or MVC application with:
ControllersServicesRepositoriesEntity Framework for database All living in a single project or solution.
Pros:
Simple to develop and deploy initiallyEasier debugging (everything in one place)Less infrastructure/setup
Cons:
Harder to scale (must scale the whole app)Slower deployments (one change requires redeploying everything)Codebase becomes harder to maintain as it growsNot ideal for teams working on different parts
Microservices Architecture
Microservices break down the application into independent services, each responsible for a specific business capability, and each deployed, scaled, and maintained independently.
Characteristics:
Each service runs in its own processServices communicate via HTTP (REST), gRPC, or messaging (RabbitMQ, Kafka)Each service can have its own database and technology stack
Example in .NET Core:
Multiple .NET Core Web APIs, such as:
UserServiceOrderServiceProductServiceEach might be deployed as a containerized app via Docker and orchestrated using
Kubernetes.
Pros:
Independent deployment and scalingBetter fault isolation (one service crash doesn't affect others)Each team can work independentlyEasier to adopt different tech for different services
Cons:
Complex to design and manageRequires DevOps maturity (CI/CD, monitoring, service discovery)Needs handling of distributed transactions and communication failuresHarder debugging (logs are spread across services)
Key Comparison Table
Feature
Monolith
Microservices
Deployment
Single unit
Multiple independent units
Scalability
Entire app scales
Each service scales independently
Maintainability
Harder as code grows
Easier (services are small and focused)
Communication
In-process
Over network (REST/gRPC/message bus)
Database
Usually one shared DB
Each service owns its database
Technology flexibility
Uniform tech stack
Each service can choose its own stack
Testing
Easier end-to-end
Requires service stubs/mocks
DevOps needs
Minimal
High (needs logging, monitoring, tracing, etc.)
Tools Commonly Used in .NET Core Microservices
API Gateway: Ocelot / YARPService Discovery: Consul / Kubernetes DNSMessaging: RabbitMQ, Azure Service BusObservability: Serilog, Elastic Stack, OpenTelemetryDeployment: Docker, Kubernetes, Azure AKS
Summary
Use Monolith for:
Small/medium projectsStartups or MVPsTeams with limited DevOps maturity
Use Microservices for:
Large, complex systemsHigh scalability or reliability requirementsIndependent team ownership of features

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Explain the difference between Microservices and Monolith in .NET Core.

ICSM Computer

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1 Answers

Monolithic Architecture

Characteristics:

Example in .NET Core:

Pros:

Cons:

Microservices Architecture

Characteristics:

Example in .NET Core:

Pros:

Cons:

Key Comparison Table

Tools Commonly Used in .NET Core Microservices

Summary

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Feature	Monolith	Microservices
Deployment	Single unit	Multiple independent units
Scalability	Entire app scales	Each service scales independently
Maintainability	Harder as code grows	Easier (services are small and focused)
Communication	In-process	Over network (REST/gRPC/message bus)
Database	Usually one shared DB	Each service owns its database
Technology flexibility	Uniform tech stack	Each service can choose its own stack
Testing	Easier end-to-end	Requires service stubs/mocks
DevOps needs	Minimal	High (needs logging, monitoring, tracing, etc.)