Monolith vs. Microservices: Why You Should Pick Monolith
Microservices solve organizational problems (too many devs), not technical ones. Until you have 50 engineers, build a Monolith. Keep it simple.
What is Modular Monolith?
Modular Monolith is A single codebase and deployment, but organized into distinct folders (Modules) with strict boundaries.
The 3 Core Benefits
Simple Deployment
One Git repo. One CI/CD pipeline. One database. You don't need to coordinate 15 services deploying at once.
Data Integrity
ACID transactions work in a Monolith. In Microservices, you have "Eventual Consistency," which is a nightmare to debug.
Performance
Function calls in memory are nanoseconds. Network calls between services are milliseconds. Monoliths are faster by default.
Architecture Strategy
Start Monolith
Put everything in `/src`. Use Next.js API routes or a single Express server. Share types and utilities.
Use Folders
Organize by Domain (e.g., `/billing`, `/users`, `/posts`). Don't let billing code import post code directly.
Extract Later
If the "Video Processing" module gets too heavy, extract THAT part into a separate service later. Only extract what needs scaling.
Database Design
Keep tables clearly owned by domains. Don't create "God Objects" coupled to everything. Good schema design > Microservices.
Proven Scale
Shopify, GitHub, and Stack Overflow scaled to millions of users on monoliths. If it works for them, it works for you.
Microservices Hell vs. Monolith Heaven
| Feature | Microservices Hell | Monolith Heaven |
|---|---|---|
| Debugging | Distributed Tracing needed | Check logs |
| Team Size | 50+ | 1-20 |
| Infrastructure | Costly / Complex | Cheap / Simple |
Frequently Asked Questions
But Netflix uses microservices!
Netflix has 2,000 engineers. You have 2. Do not copy the FAANG stack. Copy the Indie Hacker stack.
Does Monolith scale?
Yes. Stack Overflow runs on a Monolith. Shopify runs on a Monolith. You can scale vertically (Bigger servers) very far.
What about serverless?
Serverless functions (Lambda) are technically "Nano-services." They are fine for stateless tasks, but keep the core logic unified.
What makes a launch channel high intent?
High-intent channels have users actively searching for solutions, not just browsing a feed.
How many channels should I launch on?
Start with 3-5 strong channels, measure conversions, then expand to 10-12 over time.
How do I avoid launch fatigue?
Stagger your launches and reuse assets so each channel gets a focused push.
What should I measure after launch?
Track qualified signups, backlinks, and demo requests, not just raw traffic.
How does Mesh of Growth fit with other platforms?
Use Mesh for compounding reviews and backlinks while other platforms provide short-term spikes.
Ready to get instant traffic from trusted founders?
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