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Parallaxis As software becomes bigger and more complicated, choosing the right structure (called architecture ) becomes very important. Architecture is like the...
As software becomes bigger and more complicated, choosing the right structure (called architecture) becomes very important. Architecture is like the blueprint of a building - it shows how different parts of a system work together, communicate, and grow.
Picking the right architecture helps make your app easier to build, fix, and improve in the future.
In this post, we’ll explain some common system architecture patterns, when to use them, and their pros and cons - all in simple words.
What it is: This is one of the most common types of architecture. The system is split into layers — usually:
The Presentation Layer (what the user sees),
The Business Logic Layer (rules and logic), and
The Data Access Layer (how the app talks to the database).
Used in:
Web applications
Business software
Simple apps that create, read, update, and delete data (CRUD apps)
Pros:
Easy to understand and organize
Each part has a clear role
Works well with frameworks
Cons:
Parts can be too connected to each other
Hard to change or grow one part without affecting others
What it is: Different parts of the system communicate by sending messages called events. One part sends an event, and another reacts to it. It often uses message queues to handle the events.
Used in:
Real-time apps (like trading or IoT devices)
Apps made from many small parts (microservices)
Systems that need to do tasks in the background
Pros:
Parts are loosely connected
Can handle many users or tasks well
Great for delayed or background work
Cons:
Hard to find bugs
Difficult to follow what’s happening
What it is: The app is split into many small services. Each service does one thing and talks to others using APIs (like REST or gRPC).
Used in:
Big, complex apps
Teams working on different features
Systems that need to grow easily
Pros:
Each service works on its own
Teams can work independently
Easy to scale and update
Cons:
More parts to manage
Needs strong DevOps and monitoring
What it is: Your code runs as small functions in the cloud. You don’t have to manage servers. The code runs only when needed, like when someone sends a request or an event happens.
Used in:
Simple APIs
Scheduled tasks (like daily reports)
Event-based microservices
Pros:
No server management needed
Scales automatically
You only pay when it runs
Cons:
Can be slow to start the first time (cold start)
Harder to test locally
What it is: Like microservices, but usually used in big companies. Services talk through a central system called an Enterprise Service Bus (ESB).
Used in:
Large business apps
Updating old systems
Pros:
Services can be reused
Loose connections between services
Cons:
Setup can be complicated
One failed service can affect others
What it is: All computers (called peers) are equal. Each one can send and receive data. There’s no main server.
Used in:
File-sharing apps (like BitTorrent)
Blockchain systems
Collaborative apps (like shared whiteboards)
Pros:
No single point of failure
Works even if some peers go offline
Cons:
Harder to manage
Can be tricky to keep data safe and consistent
What it is: The client asks for something, and the server provides it. This is the basic idea behind most websites and apps.
Used in:
Websites
Mobile app backends
APIs
Pros:
Simple and easy to build
Server controls everything
Cons:
If the server goes down, everything stops
Not great for very large systems
What it is: This pattern splits your code into 3 parts:
Model: Handles the data
View: Shows what the user sees
Controller: Connects user actions to the model and view
Used in:
Web frameworks like Django, Rails, ASP.NET
Desktop applications
Pros:
Keeps code organized
Easier for teams to work together
Cons:
Can become complicated in large apps
Too much setup for very small apps
There is no single "best" architecture. The right choice depends on things like:
How big and complex your app is
How your team is organized
How much traffic your app will get
How fast you need to launch
Your experience with cloud, DevOps, etc.
Often, developers combine patterns. For example, a microservices app may use event-driven architecture inside and MVC for its web API.
You don’t need to be a system architect to understand architecture patterns. As a developer, knowing these basics helps you:
Write cleaner, better-organized code
Build systems that are easier to grow and manage
Make smart decisions when starting or changing a project
The more you understand about architecture, the better prepared you’ll be to build strong, scalable software in the future.