Q&A Series: The 3 Layers of an Application: Which Layer Should I modernize first?

Bob Quillin, Chief Ecosystem Officer at vFunction, sheds light on the complexities and challenges of modernizing monolithic Java applications into microservices, emphasizing the importance of addressing the business logic layer first to effectively manage architectural technical debt. Many organizations mistakenly begin modernization efforts with the user interface or database layers due to their immediate visual impact or cost reduction potential, but Quillin argues that the business logic layer holds the key to unlocking true modernization benefits like increased engineering velocity, reduced costs, and optimized cloud performance. vFunction offers tools that provide crucial visibility into application architecture, enabling architects to understand and manage technical debt effectively, and facilitating the decomposition of monoliths into microservices with clear boundaries and APIs. This approach not only helps organizations avoid the common pitfalls of modernization but also aligns them more closely with modern DevOps practices, ultimately leading to higher scalability, resilience, and developer satisfaction.