A migration metaprocess from a monolithic architecture to microservices

Abstract

Microservice-based architectures have gained popularity for their ability to handle the complexity of cloud service-oriented systems and meet requirements for availability, maintainability, and scalability. However, the process of modernizing legacy systems to adopt microservices is often time-consuming and lacks a systematic approach. There is a need for clear guidance on which activities and artifacts are essential when migrating applications to microservices and how to establish a well-defined process to achieve the expected benefits. This work introduces the Metaprocess for Microservice Migration Kernel (M3K), which serves as a foundation for migrating monolithic applications to microservice architectures. The primary objective of this proposal is to establish a comprehensive metaprocess that development teams and organizations can use as a basis for defining their microservice migration processes. M3K leverages OMG’s Essence Standard, providing a solid framework for defining software development practices, activities, and work products, and facilitating the smooth transition to microservice architectures.