Distributed system design is a complex task that involves many decisions, one of which is how systems will communicate. Communication can be achieved through point-to-point or message bus architectures. Point-to-point communication allows for direct interaction between services but silos data off from the rest of the system, hindering innovation and development pace. In contrast, message bus architectures provide more ubiquitous access to data, allowing consumers to determine how they consume it, promoting decoupling between producers and consumers. The primary benefit of a message bus architecture is that data is freely available, enabling rapid prototyping, simple services crosscutting, intuitive monitoring, and easier development. However, using a message bus also introduces operational costs and potential security concerns. Ultimately, the choice between point-to-point and message bus architectures depends on the specific needs of each system.