What is microservices architecture and when should I use it?
Microservices architecture splits an application into small, independent services that communicate via APIs — each service handles one specific function (user authentication, payment processing, email sending, product catalog). Each service can be written in a different language, deployed independently, scaled individually, and fail without taking down other services. Contrast with monolithic architecture where all functionality is in one codebase deployed together. Use microservices when: team size requires parallel development (10+ developers), different components have vastly different scaling needs, or services need different tech stacks. Do NOT use microservices for: small teams (1-5 developers), MVPs and early-stage startups, simple CRUD applications, or when operational complexity outweighs benefits. 80% of Indian startups that succeed start monolithic and split into microservices only after product-market fit with 20+ developers. Start with a well-structured Laravel or Django monolith on Connect Quest VPS, split microservices as needed. Architect on Connect Quest at connectquest.co.in.