Micro Frontend Architecture in Angular

Why Angular Should Be Your Framework of Choice for a High-Performing Website

1. Improved Productivity

Boosting Productivity with Angular: Here’s Why It Should Be Your Framework of Choice: 

a. Bubble Sort

Angular is great for front-end development because it can accelerate projects on tight schedules. Angular, as an open-source JavaScript framework, gives developers the freedom to seamlessly integrate custom code. This flexibility increases productivity and enables rapid deployment of front-end solutions without changing existing library routines. Developers are not restricted to using her Angular code. They are able to bring their creativity and interpretation from the start, and as a result complete their tasks more efficiently.  

b. Testing Capabilities

When speed is of the essence, Angular proves to be a powerful ally in the field of front-end development, particularly within the realm of angular front-end architecture. Because it is a free and open-source JavaScript framework, Angular gives developers the freedom to simply integrate custom code. This fluidity allows for increased productivity and rapid front-end solution deployment while preserving the integrity of current library procedures. The appeal is that programmers aren’t limited to predefined Angular code. Instead, they can start by bringing their own originality and interpretation, which will result in more quickly finishing tasks and a better angular front-end architecture. 

2. Single Programming Language

One advantage of Angular is that it encourages the usage of a single programming language throughout the development process. TypeScript, a statically typed superset of JavaScript, is used primarily in the development of Angular. 

a. Code Consistency

Maintaining code consistency is paramount in Angular development. It ensures adherence to standard coding rules and patterns, making it easier to read, understand, and maintain. Angular provides an official style guide that describes best practices for file structure, naming conventions, component design, and more. Angular CLI enforces consistency by generating project files and components from predefined templates. Static typing in TypeScript adds another layer of consistency, catching problems early and improving code stability.  

b. TypeScript Benefits

TypeScript offers great advantages in Angular programming. As a statically typed superset of JavaScript, it offers several benefits, including better code quality, better tooling support, and a better development experience. TypeScript allows developers to find bugs early in the development process, reducing the chance of bugs in their code. The TypeScript compiler provides features such as automatic code completion and type checking, streamlining development and reducing errors. Additionally, TypeScript seamlessly integrates with Angular, giving developers access to a rich ecosystem of libraries, frameworks, and tools. Combining Angular and TypeScript makes it easy for developers to create high-quality, scalable applications.  

3. Reduced Cost of Testing

Angular provides various advantages that contribute to lower testing costs in web application development:

a. Test-Driven Development (TDD)

Angular frontend architecture and functionalities harmonize with Test-Driven Development (TDD) principles. With TDD, developers write tests before coding, ensuring desired requirements are met and defects are caught early, reducing development costs. 

b. Robust Error Handling

Angular offers strong error handling mechanisms, guaranteeing consistent and controlled management of mistakes and exceptions. Developers can create targeted tests to validate error scenarios, ensuring the application functions properly when errors arise. Early identification and resolution of mistakes through testing can substantially lower the overall cost of bug fixing and maintenance. 

4. Easier Maintenance

One advantage of using Angular for micro frontend architecture is that it makes maintaining applications easier. Here are some significant reasons why Angular makes micro frontend development easier to maintain: 

a. Modular Structure

The architectural design of Angular micro-frontend development improves maintainability through a modular approach. Each micro front end is developed as an independent module with its own components, services, and style, promoting code organization and separation. This improves clarity and allows for efficient maintenance of individual micro-frontends.  

b. Version Control

Version control plays an important role in Angular micro-frontend development, providing important configuration and maintenance of your codebase. This enables fine-grained version control, allowing developers to track and manage changes to each micro-frontend independently. Separate deploy and branch/merge capabilities allow teams to efficiently work on multiple micro-frontends simultaneously, ensuring seamless updates and code integration. Additionally, version control promotes collaboration through code reviews, improves code quality, and provides a safety net for rollback and recovery in case of problems. In summary, version control allows teams to effectively manage micro-frontend projects, ensuring control, agility, and stability in Angular development.  

Existing System

Angular’s micro-frontend architecture involves dividing a large frontend application into smaller autonomous components called micro-frontends. Several applications and frameworks support Angular micro frontends, and single SPA is a popular choice. Single-SPA is a framework-agnostic approach that can be used with Angular, allowing the creation of separate micro-frontends that can be combined on a single page. This approach provides features such as routing, lifecycle management, and communication between micro-frontends. Another option is to use ngx-build-plus, an Angular CLI plugin that extends the build process. This allows developers to generate multiple independent bundles for different micro-frontends within the same Angular project, allowing for a more modular and scalable development approach.  

In the Angular ecosystem, there are a few existing systems and frameworks that support the implementation of micro-frontend architecture. Here are some popular ones: 

a. Single-SPA (Angular)

Single-SPA could be a framework-agnostic method to collaborating with Exact, permitting architects to make self-contained little frontends utilizing Exact. These microfrontends may at that point be dependably combined into a bound together application. Single-SPA handles principal viewpoints such as course, lifecycle organization, and communication among microfrontends, guaranteeing a coherent and competent improvement oversee. 

b. Federation with Webpack 5

Webpack 5 introduced Module Federation, a powerful feature that enables code sharing between different applications or micro–frontends. With Module Federation, developers can create independent Angular applications and selectively share modules among them, fostering better collaboration and reusability. 

c. ngx-build-plus

ngx-build-plus is a useful plugin for the Angular CLI. It expands the capabilities of the Angular development process by allowing developers to customize it. With ngx-build-plus, developers can create multiple independent bundles for different microfrontends, enhancing modularity and flexibility. It’s important to note that this plugin is compatible only with Angular 6 and later versions. 

d. Nrwl/Nx

Nrwl/Nx is a robust toolkit for monorepo development, making it an excellent alternative for building large-scale applications with microfrontend architecture. This toolkit extends the Angular CLI’s capability and includes features like as code sharing, dependency management, and a modular plugin-based architecture. Developers may use Nx to construct reusable Angular libraries that can be used across many microfrontends, encouraging code modularity and reusability. This complete toolkit provides developers with useful tools and capabilities for managing and scaling micro frontend projects inside the Angular ecosystem.

Benefits of Micro-Frontend Architecture in Angular

There are following Benefits of Micro frontend architecture in Angular: 

a. Independent Development and Deployment

The microfrontend architecture in Angular empowers diverse teams to work autonomously on specific functions or modules. This approach allows each microfrontend to be designed, tested, and deployed independently, facilitating rapid iteration and granting teams greater control over their development process. This decentralized workflow fosters efficiency, collaboration, and the ability to deliver updates swiftly and independently throughout the application. 

b. Scalability

With microfrontends, a large application is divided into smaller, manageable modules. Each microfrontend focuses on a specific feature or functionality. This modular structure enables horizontal scaling, where additional instances of microfrontends can be added to handle increased traffic or load. Scaling can be selectively applied, targeting only the microfrontends that require additional resources, thereby optimizing performance and resource utilization. 

c. Maintainability

Micro frontend architecture enhances maintainability by promoting code organization and separation of concerns. Each microfrontend is developed and maintained independently, reducing the complexity and size of individual codebases. Teams can concentrate on specific microfrontends without having to understand and modify the entire application. This isolation also simplifies troubleshooting, debugging, and updating specific parts of the application without affecting the overall system. Additionally, since each microfrontend has its own codebase, dependencies, and release cycle, updates and bug fixes can be applied to individual microfrontends without disrupting the entire application. 

d. Reusability

Microfrontends are planned as measured, self-contained components that offer flexibility for utilize over different applications or inside the same application. This approach cultivates code reuse, minimizing duplication of exertion. Designers can make reusable components, administrations, and libraries that can be shared among various microfrontends, coming about in more proficient improvement and higher code quality. 
Groups can spare profitable time and exertion by leveraging these reusable modules for common highlights, dodging the need to rehash the wheel. By building upon existing components and customizing them to meet particular necessities, the advancement handle is quickened. Besides, when upgrades or updates are connected to a reusable module, all applications or microfrontends utilizing that module consequently take advantage of those changes, guaranteeing consistency and lessening upkeep endeavors. 

Overall, microfrontend architecture in Angular allows for better scalability and maintainability of applications. It provides the flexibility to scale specific parts of the system independently and promotes a modular and isolated development approach, making it easier to maintain and evolve the application over time. 

e. Improve Performance

Micro frontends enhance performance by enabling selective loading and rendering of components. Instead of loading the entire application, micro frontends only load the components needed for a particular feature or page. This significantly shortens the initial load time and improves the overall performance of the application. Additionally, micro frontends allow for independent module deployment and upgrades. When a specific micro frontend undergoes changes, only that module requires redeployment or updates. This targeted approach reduces downtime and facilitates faster update deployment, resulting in a more responsive and efficient application. 

Difference between Micro-Frontend and Micro-Services

Micro-frontends and microservices are two different architectural approaches that serve different purposes in the context of Angular development. The main differences between micro-frontends and microservices are:  

1. Micro-Frontend

a. Scope:

The essence of micro-frontend architecture lies in its focus on the front-end layer of an application. This architectural approach entails breaking down the frontend into smaller, self-contained units known as micro-frontends, each assigned to a specific function or feature.

b. User Interface Composite:

Embracing micro-frontend architecture facilitates the seamless assembly of multiple micro-frontends into a unified user interface. Technologies like iframes, web components, and client-side configuration frameworks come into play to efficiently combine and integrate these micro-frontends. 

c. Development and Deployment:

A key advantage of micro-frontend architecture is the autonomy it grants to each micro-frontend. Development and deployment can be carried out independently by diverse teams, with the freedom to choose their preferred technology stack, build process, and deployment pipeline.   

d. Benefits:

The adoption of micro-frontend architecture brings forth several benefits. It fosters modular development, enables independent deployment, and empowers teams with greater autonomy. Consequently, teams can concentrate on specific frontend components without impacting others, leading to faster release cycles as updates are selectively applied to individual micro-frontends without necessitating a full application redeployment. 

2. Microservices

a. Scope:

The microservices architecture focuses on the backend layer of the application. The backend is divided into small, loosely coupled services, each responsible for a specific business function.  

b. Development and Deployment:

Each microservice in the microservices architecture is developed and deployed independently. They may have their own codebase, database, and deployment infrastructure. They communicate with each other using lightweight protocols like HTTP/REST or messaging systems.

c. Business Capability:

Microservices architecture emphasizes the organization of services based on business capabilities. Each microservice is designed to handle a specific feature or business function, and they can be developed using different technologies and frameworks. 

d. Benefits:

Microservices architecture promotes scalability, flexibility, and resiliency. It allows service to scale independently, allows teams to work on specific areas of business, and provides fault isolation because outages in a service don’t affect them. entire application. 

Do all Angular Applications Need the Angular Micro Frontends Approach? 

No, not all Angular apps require the Angular micro approach. Here are the main points to consider: 

1. Scale and complexity

Micro-UI architecture is more beneficial for larger, more complex applications where the user interface needs to be broken down into independent, manageable chunks. Smaller applications may not have the same level of complexity and may not benefit as much from the micro-UI approach. 

2. Group structure 

Microfrontend architecture is especially useful when different teams are responsible for separate parts of the frontend. If your application is developed by a single team or a small number of developers, the microfrontend approach can introduce unnecessary complexity

3. Development speed

The microfrontend architecture allows for independent development and deployment of microfrontends, allowing for faster release cycles for individual features. If your application does not require frequent updates order development speed is not critical, a monolithic or component-based approach may be sufficient.  

4. Scalability and flexibility 

The microfrontend architecture provides scalability by allowing microfrontends to independently scale to their specific needs. If your application requires dynamic scaling of UI elements or the ability to add or remove functionality independently, micro-UIs can offer more flexibility. 

5. Maintainability and overall cost

The microfrontend architecture introduces additional complexity in terms of integration, communication, and deployment coordination between microfrontends. Determine if the benefits of modularity and independent development outweigh the incremental maintenance and orchestration costs. 

How the Angular Micro frontend Architecture is different from Traditional architecture

Here are the steps that outline the difference between Angular microfrontend and traditional architecture: 

1. Angular microfrontend architecture

a. Decomposition:

The user interface application is intelligently divided into smaller, autonomous components known as microfrontends, with each microfrontend dedicated to a specific feature or functionality. 

b.  Independent Development:

Embracing a decentralized approach, each micro-UI is crafted and managed independently, often by distinct teams, utilizing their preferred technology stack and development methodologies.

c. Standalone Deployment:

Microfrontends possess the advantage of separate deployment, enabling independent updates and releases. Implementing changes to a specific microfrontend does not necessitate a full re-deployment of the entire application.

d. Membership:

The harmonious integration of microfrontends forms a cohesive user interface, achieved through techniques like Iframes, Web Components, or client-side compositing frameworks.

e. Group Autonomy:

Micro frontends empower diverse teams to work on different components, granting them independence and autonomy in decision-making concerning their respective micro-UIs.

f. Scalability:

Leveraging microfrontends enhances scalability as each micro-UI can be scaled independently, optimizing performance and resource allocation. High-traffic microfrontends can be scaled without impacting other UIs.

f. Error Isolation:

The isolated nature of microfrontends ensures that a failure in one micro-UI has limited repercussions on the entire application, as the remaining microfrontends continue to function independently.

g.  Technology Flexibility:

Each microfrontend has the flexibility to employ diverse technologies, frameworks, or versions, empowering the freedom of technology choices based on specific project requirements. 

2. Traditional architecture

a. Monolithic or Component-Based Architecture:

Front-end applications are commonly developed either as a monolithic unit or divided into tightly coupled components. 

b. Integrated Development:

Entire user interfaces or components are created and maintained as a unified unit, often by a single team. 

c. Monolithic Implementation:

Implementing changes or updates to a specific part of an application often requires re-implementation of the entire user interface or retesting of numerous components. 

d. Limited Autonomy:

The independence of individual teams is constrained as they operate within the confines of a shared UI architecture.

e. Scaling as a Whole:

Scaling is applied at the entire UI level, meaning all components or entire blocks are scaled together.

f. Impact of Failure:

Component failures can have a cascading effect, potentially affecting the overall application functionality. 

g. Standardization of Technology:

User interfaces typically adhere to a standardized technology stack across all components to ensure consistency and compatibility. 

How Micro Frontend Architecture will solve the above problem? 

Here are the key points highlighting how microfrontend architecture can solve the mentioned problems: 

1. Independent microfrontends enable separate development and deployment by different teams.
2. Microfrontend architecture promotes modularity and scalability with focused features.
3. Teams have autonomy in choosing technologies for their microfrontends, fostering collaboration.
4. Fault isolation in microfrontends enhances overall application resilience.
5. Incremental updates and CI/CD practices are facilitated by microfrontend architecture.
6. Technology flexibility allows different technologies to be used in each microfrontend.
7. Microfrontend architecture leads to a faster and more efficient development cycle.
8. Users benefit from quicker updates and improved features with microfrontends. 

Steps to Create the Micro-Frontend in Angular

To create a microfrontend in Angular, follow these professional steps: 

1. Configure an Angular project using Angular CLI and open it in your code editor.
2. Define specific parts of your application that can be separated into microfrontends, setting limits and responsibilities for each module.
3. Create separate modules for each microfrontend in your Angular project using Angular CLI.
4. Deploy components, services, and other files in each microfrontend module, designing and developing specific functionalities.
5. Configure routing for each microfrontend in the main Angular app, defining routes and associated components, and set up navigation links or buttons.
6. Establish communication protocols, APIs, or events for interaction between microfrontends and the main application, using techniques like event emitters or shared state management.
7. Build and deploy each microfrontend module individually using Angular CLI, considering containerization or serverless technology.
8. Integrate and combine microfrontends in the main Angular application using techniques like Iframes, Web Components, or client-side compositing frameworks, and manage routing and navigation between them.
9. Test each microfrontend module individually and together to ensure functionality and compatibility, iterating and optimizing the architecture as needed.
10. Implement Continuous Integration and Deployment for each microfrontend module and the main application, automating build, test, and deployment processes for efficiency and updates. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, embracing Micro Frontend Architecture in Angular provides a powerful and efficient solution to address the challenges of building complex and scalable web applications. By breaking down the frontend into smaller, autonomous microfrontends, development teams can work independently, promoting productivity and faster feature delivery.

The modular and responsive nature of microfrontends allows for better user experiences and seamless integration within a container application. Leveraging Angular’s capabilities and benefits, such as improved productivity, reduced testing costs, and easier maintenance, further enhances the overall development process, resulting in cost-effective and streamline project management.

The flexibility and scalability of Angular micro frontend architecture make it a compelling choice for organizations seeking to optimize front-end performance and deliver innovative solutions that can easily adapt to changing business needs. By adopting this modern architectural approach, developers can unlock the full potential of Angular, delivering exceptional user experiences and staying ahead in today’s competitive digital landscape. Embracing Angular’s micro frontend architecture empowers development teams to build robust, feature-rich applications that excel in user satisfaction, operational efficiency, and overall success in the rapidly evolving digital world.