Microservices and microapps are two different ideas. This article focuses on microapps and how a microservices architecture can be used in conjunction with a microapps platform.
Microapps are currently a very popular topic. But to be really honest, a lot of us have no idea what a “microapp” is or what its advantages are. Another tech fad, perhaps? Is it genuinely innovative, or is it only an improved version of something already in existence? Do I actually require microapps to succeed?
Microapps and the idea of a “microservices architecture” are frequently conflated. Small, readily testable, and manageable backend services are known as microservices. As we will see today, they are also set up around particular business skills, which makes them the ideal choice to work with microapps.
Let’s examine microapps in more detail and respond to some queries, like:
- What is a microapp, exactly?
- What is a microapp’s business case?
- How can my team begin using a platform that makes use of a microservices architecture to develop microapps?
So What is a Microapp?
Let’s begin by addressing the most important and fundamental question: What is a microapp?
A microapp is similar to any other app on your mobile device, with the exception that it is much more concentrated on carrying out a single purpose well. The single responsibility principle, which basically means doing one thing, one thing, and doing it well, comes to mind when we think about software. Microapps take this idea and expand it to encompass the development of mobile experiences.
To be clear, though, microapps are not exactly a novel concept. Microapps are probably something you’ve used yourself, possibly without even realizing it. Microapps are frequently found in Google’s search results. Imagine you wish to check the standings of your preferred sports group. Small, targeted microapps are employed to deliver this experience. Without having to sift through a larger resource, you can receive all the information you require.
The consumer’s worth is clear to see. Without the extra work, we can be completely concentrated on giving the customer what they need. All of this may also be thought of as a web portal. Back then, we had the idea of portlets, which were little software packages that included a certain set of functions and were made available to users through a web portal. Therefore, you can consider microapps as the mobile version of this model.
What is the Business Value of Microapps?
Let’s consider the mobility of microapps. because there is a problem right now. You, as an employee, frequently need to use 20 or more web and mobile apps just to do your work in today’s businesses. And how much of the functionality offered by these apps do you actually use? Finding what we need at the right time might be challenging. Due to the dozens to hundreds of apps we have to manage on our smartphones, we are also experiencing app fatigue as consumers of apps in both our personal and professional life.
The Developer’s Perspective
Since these 20+ apps need to be maintained, we app developers are also suffering. Additionally, we are getting requests for ever-more-apps, which merely adds to the backlog of maintenance. And in order for us to set up each of these new apps, some basic effort is required:
- Authentication
- Notifications
- Offline Access
- Metadata Management
- Device Logging
- Crash Analytics
- App Submission/Approval
- App Updates
- App Distribution
- Branding and Theming
- Authorization/Provisioning
- Performance/Health Monitoring
- Creating User Interface
- Backend Business Logic
However, with the right microapps platform, we can skip over these stages once and concentrate on the useful features and entertaining experiences that we ultimately want to offer, rather than having to repeat them for every new mobile application we develop.
The App Consumer’s Perspective
And users of these apps, even those who use internal company apps, are becoming pickier and need:
- Unconventional Cross-Platform (in the BYOD world we are regularly using both iOS and Android devices)
- Native UI Performance at 60fps (apps have to respond to our needs quickly and reliably)
- API Access for Any Device (there should be nothing preventing me from using my device to its fullest capabilities)
- Access to APIs on Any Device (there should be nothing preventing me from using my device to its fullest capabilities)
- API Access on Any Device (there should be nothing preventing me from using my device to its fullest capabilities)
Therefore, with microapps, we as app users are given a single programme that offers the specialized functionality that we require, along with the contemporary and captivating features that we want.