1.1 Why Do We Need to Study Software Architecture and Design?

Introduction

In the rapidly evolving world of software development, understanding Software Architecture

and Design is crucial for building reliable, scalable, and maintainable systems. As software
systems grow in complexity, a well-thought-out architecture ensures that development teams can
manage changes efficiently while meeting business and technical requirements. This paper
explores the necessity of studying Software Architecture and Design, emphasizing its role in
enhancing software quality, reducing costs, and improving team collaboration.

1. Ensuring Software Quality

One of the primary reasons for studying Software Architecture and Design is to ensure high
software quality. Quality attributes such as performance, scalability, maintainability,
and security are deeply influenced by the architectural decisions made early in the development
process. A strong architecture provides:

• Scalability: Ensures the system can handle increased loads by designing appropriate load
balancing, caching mechanisms, and distributed computing strategies.
• Performance Optimization: Helps avoid bottlenecks by structuring efficient data flows,
selecting optimal algorithms, and leveraging appropriate technologies.
• Security: Establishes best practices such as authentication, authorization, and data
encryption to prevent vulnerabilities.

By understanding architecture and design principles, software engineers can create robust
applications that meet both functional and non-functional requirements.

2. Facilitating Maintainability and Extensibility

Software projects often evolve over time as business needs change. A well-architected system
allows for easier maintenance and extensibility. Key benefits include:

• Modularity: Dividing a system into well-defined modules helps in managing complexity

and allows independent development and testing.
• Separation of Concerns: Different aspects of the system (such as business logic, data
access, and user interface) are kept separate, making it easier to modify one part without
affecting the whole system.
• Reusability: Well-designed components can be reused across different projects, saving
time and effort.

Without proper architecture, software projects can become difficult to maintain, leading to
increased costs and longer development cycles.

3. Reducing Development and Maintenance Costs

Investing in software architecture early in the development process significantly reduces costs in
the long run. Poor architectural decisions often lead to technical debt, where developers have to
spend additional time fixing issues and refactoring code. Key cost-saving benefits of a well-
planned architecture include:

• Minimized Rework: A clear architectural vision helps prevent costly redesigns and re-
implementations.
• Better Resource Allocation: Developers can work more efficiently when the
architecture provides clear guidelines and structures.
• Faster Time-to-Market: A well-architected system reduces the time spent on debugging
and maintenance, allowing quicker deployment of features.

By studying architecture and design principles, organizations can avoid unnecessary expenses
and optimize their software development lifecycle.

4. Supporting Team Collaboration and Communication

Software development is rarely a solo endeavor. Large projects involve multiple teams working
on different components. A well-defined architecture provides a common understanding of the
system, improving collaboration by:

• Establishing Standards: Architectural patterns and design principles ensure consistency

across the project.
• Facilitating Onboarding: New team members can quickly understand the system’s
structure and contribute effectively.
• Enhancing Cross-Team Coordination: Clearly defined interfaces and dependencies
allow different teams to work independently while maintaining overall system integrity.

Without proper architecture, teams may face miscommunication, redundant efforts, and
integration challenges, leading to project delays and inefficiencies.

5. Enabling Future Technological Adaptation

Technology is constantly evolving, and software systems must adapt to new trends such as cloud
computing, artificial intelligence, and edge computing. A flexible architecture allows for:

• Technology Agnosticism: The ability to switch to new frameworks, databases, or

platforms without major overhauls.
• Ease of Migration: Well-structured software can be migrated to newer architectures
(e.g., from monolithic to microservices) with minimal disruption.
• Support for Innovation: A scalable and modular design allows teams to experiment
with new technologies and integrate them seamlessly.

Without architectural foresight, organizations may struggle to adapt to new trends, leading to
outdated and inefficient systems.
Conclusion

Studying Software Architecture and Design is essential for building high-quality, maintainable,
cost-effective, and scalable software systems. It ensures that software meets business and
technical requirements while facilitating collaboration among development teams. Moreover, a
strong architectural foundation prepares organizations for future technological advancements,
ensuring long-term success. As software complexity continues to grow, the importance of
architecture and design in software engineering cannot be overstated. Investing in architectural
knowledge and best practices is a strategic decision that benefits both developers and businesses
alike.

1.2 Monolithic and Microservice Architectures, and Their Relationship with

AGILE

Introduction

In modern software development, the choice

between Monolithic and Microservice architectures significantly impacts scalability,
maintainability, and flexibility. Monolithic architectures, being traditional, consolidate all
functionalities into a single codebase. In contrast, Microservice architectures break applications
into loosely coupled, independently deployable services. Furthermore, Microservices align well
with AGILE methodologies, fostering rapid development, continuous integration, and
deployment. This paper discusses the differences between Monolithic and Microservice
architectures, their advantages and disadvantages, and how Microservices complement AGILE
practices.

1. Monolithic Architecture

1.1 Definition

Monolithic architecture is a software design paradigm where all components of an application

are unified into a single codebase and deployed as a single unit.

1.2 Characteristics
• Single Codebase: All functionalities, including the user interface, business logic, and
database access, reside in one project.
• Centralized Data Management: Typically uses a single database for all operations.
• Tightly Coupled Components: Changes in one module often affect the entire system.
1.3 Advantages
• Simpler Development and Deployment: Easier to develop and deploy, especially for
small-scale applications.
• Efficient Performance: Eliminates inter-service communication overhead.
• Straightforward Debugging: Since everything is in one place, debugging and logging
are more manageable.
1.4 Disadvantages
• Scalability Challenges: Scaling specific functionalities requires scaling the entire
application.
• Difficult Maintenance: As applications grow, code complexity increases, making
modifications cumbersome.
• Slower Deployment: Any change necessitates redeploying the entire application,
reducing agility.

2. Microservice Architecture

2.1 Definition

Microservice architecture is a design approach where an application is composed of small,

independent services that communicate via APIs.

2.2 Characteristics
• Decentralized Components: Each microservice operates independently and can be
developed using different technologies.
• Independent Deployment: Services can be updated and deployed separately.
• API-Driven Communication: Uses lightweight protocols like REST or messaging
queues for service interaction.
2.3 Advantages
• Improved Scalability: Services can be scaled independently based on demand.
• Faster Development Cycles: Teams can work on different services simultaneously.
• Enhanced Fault Isolation: A failure in one service does not necessarily affect the entire
system.
2.4 Disadvantages
• Complexity in Management: Requires orchestration tools like Kubernetes to handle
service coordination.
• Inter-Service Communication Overhead: Network latency and API dependencies can
introduce performance bottlenecks.
• Data Consistency Challenges: Managing transactions across multiple databases is
complex.

3. Monolithic vs. Microservice: A Comparative Analysis

Aspect Monolithic Architecture Microservice Architecture

Deployment Single unit deployment Independent service deployment

Scalability Entire application scales Individual services scale

Development Single team coordination Multiple teams in parallel

Maintenance Harder as code grows Easier due to modularity

Aspect Monolithic Architecture Microservice Architecture

Performance Direct method calls Network latency in communication

Fault Isolation Failure affects entire app Failures are localized

4. Microservice and AGILE

4.1 Alignment with AGILE Principles

Microservices and AGILE share fundamental values:

• Iterative Development: Microservices allow incremental updates, fitting AGILE’s

sprint-based approach.
• Cross-Functional Teams: AGILE promotes independent teams, aligning with
Microservices’ independent service model.
• Continuous Delivery: Automated CI/CD pipelines in Microservices support rapid
AGILE deployments.
4.2 Benefits of Using Microservices in AGILE
• Faster Release Cycles: Independent deployment enables frequent updates without
impacting the whole system.
• Better Responsiveness to Change: Modular architecture allows easy modification of
individual components.
• Scalability of Teams: Different teams can work simultaneously on various
microservices, improving productivity.
4.3 Challenges in Integrating Microservices with AGILE
• Increased Coordination Effort: Teams must align on API contracts and service
dependencies.
• Testing Complexity: Automated testing strategies must cover service interactions.
• Infrastructure Overhead: Requires DevOps expertise and advanced deployment
automation.

Conclusion

Both Monolithic and Microservice architectures have their own use cases, advantages, and
drawbacks. While Monolithic architectures suit small, simple applications, Microservices
provide greater scalability and agility for complex systems. The synergy between Microservices
and AGILE methodology allows organizations to develop resilient, adaptable, and high-
performing software. However, adopting Microservices requires careful planning, robust
infrastructure, and strong team coordination to maximize benefits.

1.3 Decomposing Software Systems into Microservices

Introduction

Microservices architecture enables the decomposition of large software systems into smaller,
independent services. Each microservice is responsible for a specific function and communicates
with others via APIs. This approach enhances scalability, maintainability, and flexibility. This
document presents the decomposition of five different software systems into microservices and
their representation using tools like Visual Paradigm (VP).

1. Decomposing an E-Commerce System

1.1 Requirements

An e-commerce system requires the following functionalities:

• User management
• Product catalog
• Order processing
• Payment gateway
• Inventory management
• Shipping & logistics
• Customer support
1.2 Microservice Decomposition
• User Service: Handles authentication, authorization, and user profiles.
• Product Catalog Service: Manages product listings, categories, and search
functionalities.
• Order Service: Processes orders, manages order history, and status tracking.
• Payment Service: Handles transactions and integrates with third-party payment
providers.
• Inventory Service: Tracks stock levels and updates availability.
• Shipping Service: Manages delivery tracking and logistics coordination.
• Customer Support Service: Handles complaints, feedback, and service inquiries.

2. Decomposing a Medicine System

2.1 Requirements

A medicine system focuses on:

• Patient management
• Electronic health records (EHR)
• Prescription handling
• Medical inventory
• Appointment scheduling
• Billing and insurance
2.2 Microservice Decomposition
• Patient Service: Manages patient information, history, and profiles.
• EHR Service: Stores and retrieves medical records securely.
• Prescription Service: Manages prescriptions and interactions with pharmacies.
• Inventory Service: Monitors availability of medicines and medical supplies.
• Appointment Service: Handles scheduling and doctor availability.
• Billing Service: Processes payments and insurance claims.

3. Decomposing a Tourist Assistant System

3.1 Requirements

A tourist assistant system requires:

• User registration
• Travel recommendations
• Hotel and flight booking
• Navigation and maps
• Review and rating system
3.2 Microservice Decomposition
• User Service: Manages tourists’ profiles and authentication.
• Recommendation Service: Suggests destinations, restaurants, and activities.
• Booking Service: Handles hotel, flight, and transport reservations.
• Navigation Service: Provides route guidance and local attraction details.
• Review Service: Collects and displays user feedback and ratings.

4. Decomposing a University Management System

4.1 Requirements

A university management system should provide:

• Student enrollment
• Course management
• Examination handling
• Faculty and staff management
• Library services
4.2 Microservice Decomposition
• Student Service: Manages student records, enrollments, and profiles.
• Course Service: Handles courses, assignments, and grading.
• Examination Service: Manages exams, results, and assessments.
• Faculty Service: Stores faculty and staff data.
• Library Service: Manages books, digital resources, and lending.

5. Decomposing a Grab Car Management System

5.1 Requirements

A ride-hailing system like Grab requires:

• User management
• Driver management
• Ride booking
• Payment processing
• Rating and review system
5.2 Microservice Decomposition
• User Service: Handles rider profiles and authentication.
• Driver Service: Manages driver registration and availability.
• Ride Service: Facilitates ride booking and tracking.
• Payment Service: Processes fares and promotions.
• Rating Service: Collects feedback on rides.

1.4 Install Python and Django

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Install Python: Download and install Python from the official website
(https://www.python.org/).
2. Install Django: Use the following command to install Django via pip
pip install django
3. Create a Django Project:
python manage.py startapp customer
python manage.py startapp cart
python manage.py startapp book
python manage.py startapp accounts
python manage.py startapp cart
4. Create Django Applications:
o Customer Application:

Project Structure

tensinhvien_project1/

├── books/

├── cart/

├── customer/

├── adminh_project1/
│ ├── __pycache__/

│ ├── __init__.py

│ ├── asgi.py

│ ├── settings.py

│ ├── urls.py

│ ├── wsgi.py

│ ├── db.sqlite3

│ └── manage.py

1.5 Develop Modules Customer, Cart, and Book in Microservice with Django

Book Module

• Attributes:
o title: Title of the book.
o author: Author of the book.
o price: Price of the book.
o quantity: Available quantity in stock.
• Methods:
o add_book(): Adds a new book to the catalog.
o update_book(): Updates book details.
o delete_book(): Removes a book from the catalog.

Cart Module

• Attributes:
o user_id: ID of the user who owns the cart.
o book_id: ID of the book added to the cart.
o quantity: Quantity of the book in the cart.
• Methods:
o add_to_cart(): Adds a book to the cart.
o remove_from_cart(): Removes a book from the cart.
o checkout(): Processes the order and clears the cart.

Customer Module

• Attributes:
o name: Name of the customer.
 o email: Email address of the customer.
o address: Shipping address of the customer.
• Methods:
o register_customer(): Registers a new customer.
o update_customer(): Updates customer details.
o delete_customer(): Removes a customer from the system.

1.6 Welcome to the Book Store

User Interface

• Add New Book:

o Author: [Input field]
o Price: [Input field]
o Save Book: [Button]
• Book List:
o Title: [Display field]
o Author: [Display field]
o Price: [Display field]
o Quantity: [Display field]
• Cart:
o Title: [Display field]
o Quantity: [Display field]
o Total Price: [Display field]
• Account:
o username: [Display field]
o password: [Display field]