Software Application Layer

A Software Application Layer is a software architecture layer that coordinates system components (to support request processing through service coordination).

• Context:
  • It can typically process Service Requests through request handlers.
  • It can typically route System Messages through message brokers.
  • It can typically coordinate Service Interactions through service orchestrators.
  • It can typically manage Request Flow through pipeline processors.
  • It can typically handle Service Responses through response formatters.
  • ...
  • It can often implement Service Discovery through registry systems.
  • It can often provide Load Balancing through distribution systems.
  • It can often manage Circuit Breaking through failure handlers.
  • It can often support Request Caching through cache systems.
  • ...
  • It can range from being a Simple Gateway to being a Complex Integration Hub, depending on its integration complexity.
  • It can range from being a Synchronous Processor to being an Asynchronous Processor, depending on its processing model.
  • It can range from being a Monolithic Coordinator to being a Distributed Coordinator, depending on its architecture pattern.
  • ...
  • It can integrate with Business Layer for logic processing.
  • It can connect to External Service for third-party integration.
  • It can utilize API Framework for service development.
  • ...
• Examples:
  • API Gateways, such as:
    • REST Gateways for HTTP services.
    • GraphQL Gateways for query services.
    • gRPC Gateways for stream services.
  • Service Coordinators, such as:
    • Spring Clouds for microservice coordination.
    • Netflix OSSs for service resilience.
    • Kubernetes Services for container orchestration.
  • Message Brokers, such as:
    • RabbitMQ Systems for message queuing.
    • Apache Kafkas for event streaming.
    • Redis Pub/Subs for real-time messaging.
  • ...
• Counter-Examples:
  • User Interface, which handles display logic rather than service coordination.
  • Database Layer, which manages data persistence rather than request processing.
  • Network Protocol, which defines communication standards rather than service integration.
• See: Service Integration Pattern, API Gateway Pattern, Message Processing Pattern, Service Orchestration.

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