Migration from Monolith to Microservices: Key Concepts and Pitfalls Quiz

Explore essential principles of migrating from monolithic applications to microservices. This quiz covers approaches, challenges, and best practices for microservices migration, helping learners understand the benefits and pitfalls of transitioning architectures.

1. Difference Between Architectures

   What is the primary difference between a monolithic architecture and a microservices architecture?

   1. A monolithic architecture only uses cloud infrastructure, while microservices require on-premise servers.
   2. Monolithic applications have no user interface, while microservices always include a UI component.
   3. A monolithic architecture combines all functionality into a single, tightly coupled application, while a microservices architecture splits functionality into independent services.
   4. Monolithic architectures only support mobile applications, while microservices support only web applications.

   Explanation: The core distinction is that monolithic applications are built as a single unit, making scaling and maintenance challenging, whereas microservices break down functions into smaller, independently managed services. Option B is incorrect because architecture does not depend on infrastructure location. Option C incorrectly implies something about user interfaces. Option D incorrectly relates application types to architecture models.

2. Microservice Boundaries

   When migrating to microservices, why is defining clear service boundaries important?

   1. It makes the user interface faster to develop.
   2. It requires fewer teams to work on the project.
   3. It ensures all microservices share the same database.
   4. It allows each microservice to own specific functionality, reducing dependencies and making management easier.

   Explanation: Defining boundaries ensures each microservice is responsible for a specific business area, increasing maintainability and independence. Option B is incorrect; shared databases can introduce complications. While better boundaries may help UI work, Option C overstates this. Option D is misleading, as microservices often require dedicated teams.

3. The Big Bang Approach

   Which best describes the 'Big Bang' approach in migrating from monolithic to microservices architecture?

   1. Migrating small parts of the application gradually over time.
   2. Running both monolith and microservices independently without any communication.
   3. Upgrading only the database before any code changes.
   4. Stopping new development to focus entirely on migration and launching all microservices at once.

   Explanation: The Big Bang approach involves dedicating all resources to the migration and releasing everything at once. Option B describes an incremental approach. Option C refers to database changes but not full migration. Option D misrepresents the migration process.

4. Drawbacks of the Big Bang Approach

   What is a major downside of using the Big Bang approach for migration?

   1. The old application becomes more secure instantly.
   2. Development stops, causing feature stagnation and business risks.
   3. It guarantees quick and seamless migration.
   4. Team communication is effortless in large groups.

   Explanation: Halting all new development means no new features or updates, which can frustrate customers and harm business. Option B is incorrect because the Big Bang approach is typically risky and unpredictable. Option C falsely claims that large teams have fewer communication issues. Option D is unrelated to the migration approach.

5. Team Structure in Migration

   Why is having a large team working on migration problematic during a monolith to microservices transition?

   1. Larger teams require fewer meetings.
   2. Large teams always complete tasks faster with no issues.
   3. Large teams mean less documentation is needed.
   4. Large teams can increase communication gaps and confusion.

   Explanation: Large teams tend to have more coordination challenges and miscommunication, making migration harder. Option B incorrectly implies size guarantees speed. Option C misstates meeting needs. Option D is incorrect; documentation remains crucial.

6. Estimating Migration Time

   Why is it difficult to accurately estimate the time required for a complete monolith-to-microservices migration?

   1. Because only front-end changes need to be considered.
   2. Because microservices migrations are always completed in one week.
   3. Because the application and migration process are both large and complex.
   4. Because deadline estimates are not needed for software projects.

   Explanation: Estimates are hard to make due to the size and uncertainty of migrating complex applications. Option B is inaccurate; migrations usually take much longer. Option C ignores the significant back-end work. Option D is false as planning and estimations are vital.

7. Customer Perspective During Migration

   From a customer's point of view, what is a likely impact if no new features are added during migration?

   1. Customers prefer a static and unchanging application.
   2. Customers expect each release to remove existing features.
   3. Customers will appreciate seeing no changes for long periods.
   4. Customers may lose interest and start looking for alternatives.

   Explanation: Lack of new features can disappoint customers, leading them to seek other solutions. Option B and D incorrectly suggest that users want inactivity. Option C is not a typical user expectation.

8. Best Practice for Team Organization

   What is the recommended team setup when managing microservices after migration?

   1. Teams are rotated every day between services.
   2. Small, dedicated teams responsible for individual microservices.
   3. No team assigned, services run independently.
   4. One large team managing all microservices together.

   Explanation: Assigning dedicated teams increases ownership and streamlines management. Option B is discouraged because large teams can lead to confusion. Option C lacks accountability. Option D would likely cause inconsistency and knowledge gaps.

9. Incremental Migration

   Which migration strategy involves moving functionalities to microservices step by step instead of all at once?

   1. Incremental migration
   2. Big Bang migration
   3. Database-first migration
   4. Manual deployment

   Explanation: Incremental migration means gradually transitioning functions or components, lowering risk. Big Bang migration is the 'all at once' strategy, not stepwise. Database-first and manual deployment don't specifically relate to gradual migration of features.

10. Avoiding Business Stagnation

    Why is it important to continue adding new features during a migration to microservices?

    1. To reduce the application’s security.
    2. To maintain business growth and keep customers engaged.
    3. To ignore legacy users’ needs.
    4. To make deployment more difficult.

    Explanation: Ongoing development assures users and attracts new business despite system changes. Option B is opposite to good business practice. Option C describes a negative effect, not a benefit. Option D is also incorrect; added features may complicate deployment, but continued development is usually necessary.

11. Service Ownership

    After migration, what is a benefit of assigning service ownership to small teams?

    1. It decreases team morale.
    2. It removes the need for documentation.
    3. It ensures clear responsibility and faster decision-making for each service.
    4. It increases confusion over who manages what.

    Explanation: Ownership clarifies who addresses issues, reducing response time and confusion. Option B is incorrect; it reduces confusion. C and D misrepresent the advantages of service ownership.

12. Challenges in Microservices Migration

    What is a common challenge when transitioning from a monolithic to microservices architecture?

    1. Reducing the number of APIs required.
    2. Having no need to test the new services.
    3. Eliminating all security risks.
    4. Managing communication and data consistency between multiple services.

    Explanation: Breaking the monolith means services now interact over networks, which can cause complexity in communication and data consistency. Option B is incorrect because testing is vital. Option C is wrong since APIs often increase. Option D is unrealistic, as new architectures still need to address security.

13. Impact on Sales Team

    How might stopping all new development during migration affect the sales team?

    1. Their tasks will not change at all.
    2. It will always boost their productivity.
    3. They can promise any feature they want, regardless of development progress.
    4. They may have difficulty attracting new clients due to lack of new features.

    Explanation: Sales rely on product improvements to attract clients. No new development can limit what they offer. Option B is incorrect; sales growth could be slowed. Option C underestimates the impact. Option D is misleading and risky.

14. Communication Issues

    What is a risk associated with large teams working on the migration process?

    1. Reduced need for documentation.
    2. Simpler project management due to many people involved.
    3. Lower chance of encountering technical issues.
    4. Increased miscommunication and difficulty in strategy alignment.

    Explanation: With larger teams, aligning everyone’s understanding and strategies becomes harder, raising the risk of problems. Option B contradicts common project management experience. Option C is incorrect; documentation remains vital. Option D underestimates technical challenges.

15. Planning Service APIs

    Why is it important to define which APIs each microservice will offer before starting migration?

    1. To ensure all services use the same database schema.
    2. To increase the number of services unnecessarily.
    3. To keep the monolithic design intact.
    4. So that services interact consistently and avoid overlapping responsibilities.

    Explanation: Planning APIs ensures each service serves a clear role and communicates with others in a predictable way. Option B is unnecessary for microservices, as they often avoid sharing schemas. Option C contradicts the goal of migration. Option D is incorrect; planning prevents excessive service creation.

16. User Experience During Migration

    During migration, what is a potential downside if the user experience is not improved?

    1. Users may find the application stale and lose interest.
    2. It guarantees better performance without user feedback.
    3. It will always lead to more satisfied customers.
    4. Users will not care about lack of updates.

    Explanation: If users see no improvements, they can become dissatisfied and leave. Option B is false; stagnation does not equal satisfaction. Option C incorrectly assumes performance is enough. Option D ignores the importance of regular updates to retain users.