Use accelerators for tasks based on pre-defined logic and data behavior
Predefinition is the work to locate, define, quantify and qualify predefined repeatable use cases for specific data models inside existing applications before we then move forward with a solution to manage that information in the context of a digital transformation. Once the repeatable use cases are located, choose a tool for managing (a standard to map to) or a common library or managed service to support these data models in a way that encourages a single source of truth for representation.
Our experience with digital transformation and modernization at Artemis Consulting carries with it a full set of pre-built tools and accelerators.
Standard API driven tooling
Use standards-based API definitions to facilitate independence among teams, allowing them to develop the necessary components without reliance on one other, speeding up the development process.
Microservice configuration mapping
Adoption of microservices frees organizations from the traditional monolithic build and release cycles and allows smaller teams to be responsible for a specific business capability. Enterprise software solutions built using microservices may depend on many individual microservices for operation and , consequently, require a method of tracking changes and dependencies. Microservice mapping is a configuration management process that tracks changes across microservices and their consuming applications over time. Microservice configurations should be versioned and tracked, so that they are never lost. Tools that aid in this process are a key part of enterprise-scale digital transformation.
Use common components
Encryption, serialization, pagination, event generation, logging, caching are all generally common components of APIs. Recognize where these common components can be kept in a single canonical form.
Leverage prebuilt services
A clear advantage of the Microservice architecture is the loose coupling and standalone nature of services and components. Because of this attribute, new capabilities can be implemented using pre-built services that came before.
Boilerplate code generation
Building Restful APIs begins with defining the entity abstractions that embody the access patterns for underlying data. Often, these patterns defined in existing systems can be used to inform the creation of APIs. Code generation tools can accelerate this process. At Artemis Consulting, we come to the table with a full tool belt of code-generation tools that we can leverage in the appropriate contexts.
CHECKLIST
- For each business capability in your organization: locate, define, quantify and qualify use cases that overlap in functionality
- Recognize where common components can be kept in a single canonical form
- For each business capability, define and expose a set of standards-based APIs that are the only external interface for consumers
- Implement new capabilities using pre-built services that came before
- Use a single source of truth for your data models and use code generation tools to generate necessary boilerplate code and interface definitions
KEY QUESTIONS
- Are your API definitions standards-based and independent of the underlying implementation?
- Do you employ tools to manage microservice configurations and dependencies?
- Do your services leverage shared common components?
- Are you able to leverage pre-built existing services?