Title

AWS re:Invent 2023 - Lessons in modernizing monolithic .NET applications to microservices (XNT306)

Summary

• The session, led by Runeet Vashisht and joined by Rashid Abdul and Odell Tuttle, focused on transitioning monolithic .NET applications to microservices on AWS.
• Key considerations when choosing between monolithic and microservices architectures were discussed.
• Five lessons were shared based on customer experiences:
  1. Understand business priorities and technical goals before making architectural decisions.
  2. Explore different approaches like re-hosting, replatforming, and refactoring before considering microservices.
  3. Utilize AWS tools like App2Container and AWS Toolkit for .NET refactoring.
  4. Consider AWS compute services beyond Kubernetes for running .NET applications, such as AppRunner and Lambda.
  5. Choose purpose-built databases for microservices, like Amazon Aurora, DynamoDB, and Elastic Cache.
  6. Emphasize the importance of observability in microservices architecture, recommending OpenTelemetry and AWS Distro for OpenTelemetry.
• A case study of Aviante's journey to AWS was presented by Odell Tuttle, highlighting the benefits of modernization, such as improved availability, performance, and scalability.
• A hands-on workshop was announced for further exploration of microservices in action.

Insights

• Modernizing to microservices requires a deep understanding of the existing application architecture and the business goals to ensure the transition aligns with the organization's needs.
• AWS provides a variety of tools and services that can assist in the modernization process, including AI-powered refactoring tools like the microservice extractor for .NET.
• The transition to microservices is not a one-size-fits-all solution; it involves evaluating different strategies and may include a combination of re-hosting, replatforming, refactoring, and rearchitecting.
• AWS's diverse offerings in compute services and databases allow for a tailored approach to building microservices, enabling developers to leverage their existing skill sets while modernizing their applications.
• Observability is a critical component of a microservices architecture, ensuring that issues can be detected and remediated efficiently across distributed systems.
• Real-world case studies, such as Aviante's, demonstrate the tangible benefits of modernizing monolithic applications to microservices on AWS, including increased reliability, performance, and the ability to scale effectively.