Software Architecture defines how products scale and adapt, which are major aspects of developing successful solutions.
"Almost everything we know about good Software Architecture has to do with making software easy to change." —Mary Poppendieck
Composable Architecture emerges as an outstanding approach for building scalable products. But what is it, and why is it a great option for your digital strategy?
What is Composable Architecture?
Composable architecture is an approach to Software Development that uses interchangeable, modular building blocks.
Unlike monolithic architectures, which tightly integrate all functionalities into a single codebase, composable systems are built from modular, scalable components.
Each component handles specific business capabilities or features, making systems more flexible and easier to evolve.
This architecture enables teams to develop, update, and deploy individual modules independently, without disrupting the entire system.
Moreover, it aligns with MACH Alliance principles: Microservices, API-first, Cloud-native, and Headless, supporting agility and speed.
Principles of Composable Architecture
1. Microservices
Microservices are individual components that address specific, independent functions, such as data search or a logging feature.
These components share a single codebase, which enables teams to manage them simultaneously, resulting in more stable products.
Implementing microservices also enables autonomy and flexible scaling based on demand, improving resource efficiency.
2. API-first
Composable Architecture connects components (microservices) using Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).
This approach involves developing an API-first platform from the beginning of the Software Development process.
In this way, teams can build products that leverage built-in integrations to meet their specific needs.
Teams using an API-first approach can integrate systems no matter the programming language they use.
Think of it as a puzzle. The system is your central piece, and you can adapt other pieces as needed.
A well-designed API management leads to proper integrations and more robust, flexible and feature-rich applications.
3. Cloud-Native
Cloud services build, deploy and manage products in cloud environments to focus on speed, agility and scalability.
In monolithic architectures, adding or fixing code can be challenging, as slight errors can break down entire systems.
Conversely, cloud-native platforms enable deploying changes, such as integrating new business logic and updates.
As teams can add or modify code in a specific microservice, they're not changing the whole product.
As a result, businesses can respond more rapidly to digital market changes.
4. Headless Architecture
The headless principle implies separating the design and development of the front-end from the back-end.
This separation provides greater flexibility to personalize customer experiences without impacting back-end functionality.
It also allows displaying data from the back-end across multiple "heads," such as Web Apps, landing pages and mobile apps.
When Should You Use Composable Architecture?
The financial sector is increasingly adopting this architecture for building more resilient and scalable systems.
The MACH Global Research report highlights that 87% of finance leaders have recently increased their investment in MACH.
Finance services require blazing speed for customer onboarding processes and adapting to regulatory compliance changes.
Composable Architecture's reusable components and API calls can help speed up processes such as identity verification and compliance checks.
Using API-driven integrations can also link multiple systems and platforms to provide highly personalized experiences.
J.P. Morgan adopted this approach to enhance capabilities, including in-store and omnichannel payments, as well as fraud detection.
How? By deploying an API-driven approach for automation, building a cloud-native architecture to enhance controls and leveraging microservices to accelerate implementation.
Another industry that has benefited from MACH is Supply Chain Management.
Businesses must cover multiple processes, such as inventory management, order processing, shipment and real-time tracking.
Composable Architecture's microservices enable teams to integrate modules that assist with specific operations.
A logistics and transportation module can help in freight management, financial analysis, transportation sourcing and route planning.
Conversely, a module for inventory management can provide low stock reports, inventory control and serial number tracking.
The healthcare industry has also seen an influx of Composable Architecture, leading to evolving and adaptable solutions.
Casper Rasmussen, President of the MACH Alliance, highlights:
"MACH technologies are critical to ensuring resilience and agility for businesses navigating swift market changes now and in the future."
This architecture enables the complex integration of data from multiple sources.
Examples include wearable devices, patient data, insurance records, and providers.
API-based components can integrate diverse data sources, leading to streamlined workflows.
For example, healthcare providers integrate conversational AI technology into their systems to offer 24/7 support to patients.
Additionally, as medical equipment becomes more "smart," teams can connect it with patient charts and medical records.
This leads to gathering more customer data to inform decision-making and enhance the quality of care.
In this manner, businesses can build systems with the right capabilities without unnecessary complexities.
What are the Benefits of Composable Architecture?
Composable Architectures are often more reliable and secure than traditional methods, such as the monolithic architecture.
First, isolating components reduces the risk of failures and facilitates the identification and resolution of security threats.
This approach minimizes common side effects and bugs that can occur when scaling software systems.
It also enables teams to select the tools they need to create products that deliver the best digital experiences.
Think of an e-commerce website that requires a payment gateway with specific features.
Teams can integrate the third-party service that best meets their needs, such as Stripe or PayPal.
They can swap these components as new challenges arise without disrupting the rest of the system.
Additionally, since it uses APIs to add tools and functionalities, it facilitates staying up-to-date with market trends.
A perfect example is how organizations utilize OpenAI's API to integrate robust AI models with their applications.
Lastly, by reusing and combining existing components, Composable Architecture can significantly shorten development cycles.
Creating a composable system may take more time at first. Teams need to ensure systems are resilient and can adapt to modular changes.
However, the long-term benefits are significant. Over time, it makes updates easier, reduces maintenance work, and lowers costs.
Composable Architecture vs the Composable Architecture (TCA)
Composable architecture is an approach to building digital experience platforms by using the MACH architecture.
Conversely, the Composable Architecture (TCA) is a framework or library designed for the Swift programming language.
This means the TCA is exclusive for developing Apple's ecosystem apps, including iOS, macOS and watchOS apps.
The TCA has a wide range of pre-built tools that facilitate iOS development by using Swift.
Composable architecture, contrarily, can be used to build e-commerce platforms, SaaS applications, mobile apps, and websites.
Lastly, TCA's toolkit requires careful maintenance to function properly. Therefore, implementing the TCA in your project involves some level of risk.
Conclusion
Composable Architecture offers a clear path for organizations seeking to future-proof their solutions.
Moreover, decision-makers who embrace it can reduce complexity and accelerate time to market!
As a Product Growth Partner, composable architectures are crucial for delivering solutions that meet user needs and business objectives.
If you're ready to take the next step, reach out today!
