Introduction

The Software Architecture Patterns: Monoliths to Microservices Training Course is a high-impact program designed for software architects, engineers, and IT professionals looking to master the transition from traditional monolithic applications to flexible, scalable microservices architectures. This course equips participants with the architectural mindset, design principles, and implementation patterns needed to build resilient, maintainable systems for modern cloud-native environments. It focuses on real-world scalability, modularity, and evolution of software systems using industry-proven architectural models.

As organizations scale and modernize, understanding software architecture evolution is critical to ensure application agility, performance, and operational efficiency. This training offers deep insights into choosing the right architecture pattern based on domain complexity, team structure, deployment strategy, and technology stack. Participants will gain hands-on experience in designing monoliths, decomposing applications into services, and implementing microservices architectures using best practices for service discovery, fault tolerance, and data consistency.

Target Audience

• Software Architects designing scalable system architectures
• Senior Developers transitioning to architecture roles
• DevOps Engineers supporting distributed systems
• CTOs and Technical Leads planning system modernization
• Backend Engineers refactoring legacy applications
• Solution Architects working on microservices platforms
• Cloud Engineers enabling infrastructure for services

Course Objectives

• Understand core software architecture patterns and trade-offs
• Identify scenarios best suited for monoliths or microservices
• Analyze and decompose monolithic systems into services
• Design loosely coupled, highly cohesive microservices
• Apply Domain-Driven Design (DDD) for service boundaries
• Manage inter-service communication and orchestration
• Address data management in distributed systems
• Implement observability, scalability, and fault tolerance
• Design migration roadmaps from monolith to microservices
• Evaluate architecture decisions using cost and performance criteria

Duration

10 Days

Course content

Module 1: Introduction to Software Architecture Fundamentals

• Key roles and responsibilities of software architects
• Architecture vs design vs implementation
• Characteristics of robust architecture
• Core architectural quality attributes
• The cost of architectural decisions

Module 2: Monolithic Architecture Principles

• Structure of traditional monoliths
• Benefits and drawbacks in real-world systems
• Use cases for monolithic deployment
• Common pitfalls in large monoliths
• Patterns for modular monolith design

Module 3: Evolution Toward Microservices

• Understanding architectural evolution paths
• Drivers for decomposition: speed, scale, agility
• Challenges in moving from monoliths to services
• Role of Conway’s Law in architecture design
• Deciding when to split and how to approach it

Module 4: Domain-Driven Design and Bounded Contexts

• DDD fundamentals for service decomposition
• Strategic vs tactical DDD
• Identifying bounded contexts and aggregates
• Mapping business capabilities to services
• Avoiding common DDD anti-patterns

Module 5: Microservices Communication and Integration

• REST, gRPC, and asynchronous messaging
• Service discovery and load balancing
• API gateway patterns and security
• Event-driven architecture (EDA) overview
• Message queues vs event streaming

Module 6: Data Management in Microservices

• Database-per-service pattern
• Event sourcing and CQRS principles
• Distributed data challenges and consistency models
• Data replication and syncing strategies
• Data governance across services

Module 7: Service Deployment and Infrastructure

• Containerization with Docker
• Microservices deployment with Kubernetes
• Infrastructure as Code and CI/CD for services
• Multi-service configuration and orchestration
• Serverless vs container-based deployments

Module 8: Monitoring, Logging, and Observability

• Centralized logging with ELK/EFK
• Metrics collection and tracing
• Implementing health checks and alerts
• Distributed tracing with OpenTelemetry
• SLA/SLO considerations in microservices

Module 9: Security in Distributed Systems

• Zero-trust architecture for microservices
• Securing service-to-service communication
• Role-based access control (RBAC) and OIDC
• Protecting APIs with JWT and OAuth2
• Audit logging and compliance

Module 10: Refactoring Monoliths Safely

• Strangler Fig pattern for gradual migration
• Identifying service candidates from legacy apps
• Minimizing disruption during transition
• Creating adapters for legacy integration
• Testing and validating system behavior

Module 11: Anti-Patterns and Failure Scenarios

• Distributed monoliths and tight coupling
• Overengineering and premature decomposition
• Shared databases and integration complexity
• Fault propagation and cascading failures
• Avoiding reinventing the monolith in microservices

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 10 working days before commencement of the training.