Microservices Architecture in Ruby: A Practical Setup Guide

Usage of microservices architecture is becoming increasingly popular mainly because of its scalability, better flexibility, and fault isolation. There is no need to launch your project on a monolithic architecture; you can use a more scalable solution where services will be functioning independently, but still communicate with each other.

Here, we will guide you through the process of Ruby setup with real practical examples and helpful recommendations.

Getting Started with Microservices

When talking about the standard client-server approach, the backend usually functions on the basis of a monolithic system, which includes all the data access and domain logic. The interaction is conducted with the backend via the API layer. With a microservices architecture, the system is divided into smaller services where every part has its own resources and domain. In addition to this, all these services are scaled independently.

The services are connected and interacting via the broker architecture. The entire process functions in the following way: the messages are sent to the broker via services, and then these messages are routed to the needed destination. That means services should not be connected with one another directly, but only know how to interact with the broker. Such an approach is extremely beneficial for service isolation and better security in general.

Insights regarding interaction and messaging  

For enabling the interaction with the broker, the asynchronous layer is utilized. The interaction somehow resembles HTTP. It functions in the following way: services send the request via the broker, and then it receives the response.

Such an approach means that every service is only focused on certain individual responsibilities. The system is organized in such a convenient way that services only interact with the broker, but operations can be used by other parts within this system.

Building microservices with Ruby    

Let’s take, for instance, an architecture with a broker and a couple of Ruby services. To launch the process properly, start by setting up the broker after checking that it is functioning correctly. You can add Ruby microservices.

When talking about the specific service project, it usually includes the following parts:

• A configuration that includes logging levels, database settings, and broker address.
• Initializers that are responsible for determining dependencies.
• Data transfer objects and data access objects.
• Repositories that control access operations with data.
• Mappers are necessary for the conversion between DAO and DTO.
• Service classes that are needed for the orchestration of repositories and implementation of the business endpoints.

Creating a Simple “Person” Service

Now let’s review a sample of the “Person” service. The initial step is connected with the configuration of the database connection and defining the person’s table. The DAO model is needed for the representation of records in the table, and the DTO is used for the representation of the external payload shape.

After then a mapper is utilized for the conversion between DTO and DAO. All these components are united by the repository to guarantee more high-level operations. The last step is the usage of the service class for the unification of everything together and giving a structured response.

For instance, with the get method, it is possible to fetch information regarding all users. In case none of this information is received, then the standard error 404 will be generated. In case such information is available, then it is converted to a DTO and is returned to the client. Then the service is bound to the broker, the routes are associated, and it guarantees that incoming requests will be sent to the right handler.

For the testing of endpoints, only small scripts will be needed. Using simple error handling logic, the general behavior between all the processes becomes way more testable and predictable.

Usage of the repository patterns

Services in the described architecture do not directly communicate with the database models. They are mainly based on repositories, which are also based on the principle of mappers, DTOs, and DAOs. Such an approach has a couple of specific benefits:

• Because all data accesses are centralized in repositories, it has a positive impact on query logic and storage.
• The major principle of functioning is based on message handling and business logic.
• Guarantees of a stable contract due to DTO.

Microservices mainly functioning of the principle of accurate separation, where every service has its own individual structure and storage strategy. The combination of disciplined patterns and broker-based messaging design makes this approach way more maintainable and flexible.