How do we do Microfrontends and how do we split the project into different domains

[geekelo]

Microfrontends is an architectural approach that involves breaking down a front-end monolith into smaller, independent, and loosely coupled applications. Each microfrontend is developed, deployed, and maintained independently, promoting team autonomy and enabling scalability. Here are some key strategies and considerations for implementing microfrontends and splitting a project into different domains:

Key Strategies for Microfrontends:

1. Independent Deployability:

   • Each microfrontend should be deployable independently without affecting other parts of the system.
   • Enables continuous integration and continuous delivery for individual components.

2. Loose Coupling:

   • Microfrontends should be loosely coupled to minimize dependencies between them.
   • Use APIs and communication protocols (e.g., events, messaging) for inter-microfrontend communication.

3. Isolation:

   • Encapsulate the styling, logic, and dependencies of each microfrontend to avoid conflicts with other parts of the system.
   • Use technologies like iframes, Web Components, or module bundlers (Webpack, SystemJS) to achieve isolation.

4. Autonomous Teams:

   • Assign independent teams to work on different microfrontends.
   • Teams have ownership and control over their respective microfrontend, fostering autonomy and faster development cycles.

5. Cross-Cutting Concerns:

   • Identify and address cross-cutting concerns, such as authentication, authorization, and routing, in a shared infrastructure layer.

Splitting a Project into Different Domains:

1. Identify Bounded Contexts:

   • Define the boundaries of different business capabilities or domains within the application.
   • Bounded contexts represent areas of the application that can be independently developed and deployed.

2. Separate User Interfaces:

   • Based on the identified bounded contexts, separate the user interfaces into distinct microfrontends.
   • Each microfrontend corresponds to a specific domain or business capability.

3. Define APIs and Contracts:

   • Clearly define APIs and contracts between microfrontends to facilitate communication.
   • Use standard protocols like RESTful APIs, GraphQL, or custom events for interaction.

4. Shared Infrastructure:

   • Establish a shared infrastructure layer for handling cross-cutting concerns.
   • Include shared services for authentication, authorization, routing, and other common functionalities.

5. Routing and Navigation:

   • Implement a central routing mechanism or use client-side routing to navigate between different microfrontends.
   • Ensure a consistent user experience by managing navigation seamlessly.

6. Integration and Composition:

   • Use a microfrontend composition strategy to assemble the overall user interface.
   • Strategies include server-side composition, client-side composition, or a combination of both.

7. Independent Deployments:

   • Ensure that each microfrontend can be deployed independently, allowing for flexibility in scaling and updating different parts of the application.

8. Versioning and Compatibility:

   • Establish versioning strategies for microfrontends to handle changes in APIs and contracts.
   • Ensure backward compatibility where necessary to avoid disruptions during updates.

Tools and Frameworks:

1. Module Bundlers:

   • Use module bundlers like Webpack to manage dependencies and create isolated environments for microfrontends.

2. Web Components:

   • Consider using Web Components to encapsulate UI elements and create reusable components that can be shared across microfrontends.

3. Microfrontend Frameworks:

   • Explore microfrontend frameworks such as single-spa, Luigi, or Module Federation for managing the architecture.

4. Containerization:

   • Consider containerization technologies (e.g., Docker) for packaging and deploying microfrontends independently.

5. CI/CD Pipeline:

   • Implement a robust CI/CD pipeline to automate the testing, building, and deployment of each microfrontend.

Implementing microfrontends and splitting a project into different domains require careful planning, communication, and adherence to best practices. It allows teams to work independently, scale efficiently, and adapt to evolving business requirements.