Front-End Micro Apps

What if you could break up your frontend monolith into independently deployable micro apps? Learn how Webpack 5's Module Federation makes it a reality.

#1about 4 minutes

Understanding the scaling challenges of monolithic applications

A product's growth from a simple feature to a complex system demonstrates how monolithic codebases slow down development and onboarding.

#2about 2 minutes

The architectural evolution from monoliths to micro-frontends

Software architecture has evolved from monoliths to frontend/backend splits and microservices, with micro-frontends being the next logical step for UI complexity.

#3about 5 minutes

Using Webpack 5 Module Federation for micro-frontends

Webpack 5's native Module Federation provides a standardized and widely adopted tool for building micro-frontends, avoiding the niche nature of other frameworks.

#4about 3 minutes

Live demo of a shell app consuming a micro-app

A practical demonstration shows how a shell application dynamically imports and renders a separate micro-app, both locally and from a deployed URL.

#5about 2 minutes

Differentiating micro-frontends from micro-apps

A micro-app combines the frontend focus of a micro-frontend with the backend concerns of a microservice to perform a single, well-defined task.

#6about 5 minutes

Exploring practical use cases for micro-apps

Micro-apps can be used for design system components, team autonomy, gradual migrations, and building a portfolio of applications from shared parts.

#7about 2 minutes

Coordinating shared dependencies and versions

A central platform team or guild should define and enforce exact versions for core shared dependencies like React to ensure consistency across all micro-apps.

#8about 5 minutes

Avoiding common pitfalls with micro-frontends

Key challenges include managing version deployments, handling CORS, ensuring security by avoiding third-party scripts, and implementing proper error boundaries.

#9about 2 minutes

Managing global UI state and communication patterns

Use singleton providers from the shell application for global UI elements like modals and notifications to prevent duplication and maintain control.

#10about 1 minute

Knowing when not to use a micro-frontend architecture

Micro-frontends should only be considered for transactional features or when organizational needs require separate deployment cadences; otherwise, a simple component is better.

#11about 2 minutes

Key takeaways for adopting micro-frontends

Successful adoption relies on using modern tools like Webpack 5, ensuring the architecture fits the organizational structure, and maintaining strong coordination.