Research and Choose Implementation Approach

[mouimet-infinisoft]

Research and Implementation Approach:

Module Federation:

• Description: Module Federation is a feature introduced in Webpack 5 that allows different JavaScript applications to dynamically share code at runtime.
• Advantages:
  • Enables dynamic loading of microapps, making it suitable for your requirement of loading microapps at runtime.
  • Supports decentralized hosting, as microapps can be developed and deployed independently.
  • Facilitates sharing of resources and dependencies between microapps.
• Implementation Steps:
  1. Research Webpack 5's Module Federation feature and understand its capabilities and limitations.
  2. Experiment with setting up a basic Module Federation configuration within a Next.js application.
  3. Explore how microapps can expose components and functionalities as federated modules.
  4. Investigate methods for integrating Module Federation with a custom registry for storing microapp metadata.

Custom Registry and Loader System:

• Description: Develop a custom registry and loader system to manage the registration and loading of microapps within the Next.js application.
• Advantages:
  • Provides flexibility to tailor the registry and loader system according to specific project requirements.
  • Allows fine-grained control over how microapps are registered, searched, and loaded.
  • Offers the potential for implementing security measures and authentication mechanisms.
• Implementation Steps:
  1. Design a schema for the microapp registry, including metadata such as name, version, entry point, etc.
  2. Develop an API or service for microapps to register themselves with the registry.
  3. Implement a loader mechanism within the Next.js application to fetch microapp metadata from the registry and load them dynamically.
  4. Ensure robust error handling and security measures to validate and authenticate microapp requests.

Evaluation of Alternatives:

• Single SPA: Consider Single SPA as an alternative approach for micro frontend architecture.
  • Evaluate its compatibility with Next.js and its suitability for dynamic loading and decentralized hosting.
  • Compare the features and capabilities of Single SPA with Module Federation and custom registry/loader systems.

Proof of Concept:

• Research and Experimentation:
  • Conduct experiments to compare the feasibility and performance of Module Federation versus a custom registry and loader system.
  • Build a proof of concept to demonstrate dynamic loading of microapps within the Next.js host application using the chosen approach.
  • Gather feedback from stakeholders and iterate on the implementation based on the results of the proof of concept.

Next Steps:

1. Begin by researching Module Federation and custom registry/loader systems in more detail.
2. Conduct experiments and build prototypes to assess the feasibility and suitability of each approach within your Next.js application.
3. Based on the research and experimentation, choose the most appropriate implementation approach for your microapp architecture.
4. Proceed with implementing the chosen approach and refining it based on feedback and further testing.

[mouimet-infinisoft]

Update on Research Findings:

After conducting thorough research into our current technology stack and compatibility requirements, it's apparent that the proposed solution utilizing Module Federation may not be feasible at this time. Here's a summary of our findings:

1. Compatibility Limitations:
   • Our current setup relies on Next.js 14, React, TypeScript, and Tailwind CSS with the new App Router.
   • Unfortunately, Module Federation is not compatible with Next.js 14, and integrating it with our stack would require significant adjustments or upgrades.

2. Hosting Constraints:

   • Additionally, considering our hosting environment on Vercel, which may have limitations or constraints that impact the implementation of Module Federation, it further complicates the integration process.
   • https://github.com/vercel/next.js/discussions/33327

3. Alternative Solutions:

   • While Single SPA is not compatible with Next.js, it's essential to explore alternative approaches that align with our technology stack and hosting environment.
   • https://single-spa.js.org/docs/ecosystem
   • Investigating custom solutions for dynamic loading and microapp management within the constraints of our current setup could be a more viable path forward.

Next Steps:

• Let's focus small scale for the first version to avoid over engineering and complexity.
• Given these constraints, we need to reassess our approach to microapp architecture and explore alternative solutions that are compatible with our existing stack.
• I suggest we focus on refining our current architecture to accommodate dynamic loading and microapp management within the constraints of Next.js 14 and our hosting environment on Vercel.
• We will use lazy loading dynamic loading and isolate each app as encapsulated component keeping the objective to later refactor as microapps ecosystem.

Let's discuss further and explore alternative strategies to achieve our goals while ensuring compatibility and feasibility within our current setup.

[mouimet-infinisoft]

Small-Scale Refinement of Microapp Architecture for Next.js Application

Issue Description

Let's prioritize a small-scale approach for the initial version of our microapp architecture to avoid over-engineering and complexity. This issue aims to refine our current architecture to support dynamic loading and microapp management within the constraints of Next.js 14 and our hosting environment on Vercel. We'll employ lazy loading techniques and encapsulate each app as an isolated component, with the objective of later refactoring into a full-fledged microapps ecosystem.

Requirements

1. Refinement of Current Architecture:

   • [x] Evaluate the current architecture and identify areas for refinement.
   • [x] Determine the best approach for integrating lazy loading and dynamic loading techniques into the architecture.

2. Dynamic Loading Implementation:

   • [x] Implement dynamic loading functionality to enable the loading of microapps at runtime.
   • [x] Ensure compatibility with Next.js 14 and verify functionality within the Vercel hosting environment.

3. Encapsulation of Microapps:

   • [x] Develop a strategy to encapsulate each microapp as an isolated component within the architecture.
   • [x] Implement encapsulation techniques to maintain separation and modularity between microapps.

4. Documentation and Knowledge Sharing:

   • [x] Document the refined architecture, including the implementation of lazy loading and encapsulation techniques.
   • [x] Share knowledge with the team through documentation, workshops, or internal presentations.

Tasks

• [x] Evaluate current architecture and identify areas for refinement.
• [x] Research and select appropriate lazy loading techniques compatible with Next.js 14.
• [x] Implement dynamic loading functionality to load microapps at runtime.
• [x] Develop encapsulation strategies to isolate each microapp as a component.
• [x] Test the implemented features within the Vercel hosting environment to ensure compatibility.
• [x] Document the refined architecture and share knowledge with the team.
• [x] Iterate based on feedback and refine the implementation as needed.

[mouimet-infinisoft]

Title: Prioritizing Simplicity for Initial Microapp Architecture

Comment:

After considering the current state of our project and the complexities involved in implementing a full-fledged microapp ecosystem, we've decided to prioritize simplicity for the first version of our microapp architecture. Our focus will be on encapsulating microapps as much as possible within the codebase to facilitate future refactoring into a more robust ecosystem.

Approach:

• Simplicity: We aim to keep the initial implementation straightforward and manageable, focusing on encapsulated microapps to maintain code clarity and simplicity.
• Refactoring for Ecosystem: While our long-term goal is to evolve into a comprehensive microapp ecosystem, we recognize that the current stage may not warrant such complexity.

Next Steps:

• Standardized Microapp Structure: We'll define a standardized structure for microapps, ensuring consistency across the codebase.
• CLI Tool: Develop a CLI tool to generate the standardized microapp structure, including tools, events, listeners, hooks, prompts, tasks, integrations, etc.

This approach allows us to lay a solid foundation for our microapp architecture while keeping complexity in check. By establishing a standardized structure and developing tooling to streamline microapp creation, we can maintain clarity and efficiency in our development process.