**This study guide is based on the video lesson available on TrainerTests.
com**
Introduction to Containers and Microservices Study Guide
This chapter introduces three key concepts that form the foundation for modern application
development: containers, microservices, and APIs. Understanding these concepts will be crucial for
navigating the world of distributed systems and cloud-native architectures.
1.1 Containers
Imagine a container as a lightweight application that packages all its dependencies for execution.
These dependencies include the application code itself, libraries, system tools, and configuration files.
Unlike traditional applications that require a dedicated operating system environment, containers
share the host operating system kernel with other containers. This shared kernel approach allows for
efficient resource utilization and enables multiple containers to run on a single machine.
For further details on container technologies in Linux, you can refer to the Linux Containers Project
documentation [man:containerd].
1.2 Microservices
A monolithic application is a traditional software development approach where all functionalities are
bundled together into a single unit. Microservices architecture, in contrast, advocates for breaking
down an application into smaller, independent services. Each microservice has a well-defined
purpose and performs a specific task. This modular design offers several advantages, including:
• Scalability: Individual microservices can be scaled independently based on their specific
resource needs.
• Maintainability: Smaller codebases are easier to understand, modify, and debug.
• Fault Isolation: Failure in one microservice has minimal impact on other services, promoting
overall application resilience.
Microservices often leverage containers for deployment. Containerization provides a lightweight and
portable way to package and run these smaller services.
1.3 APIs (Application Programming Interfaces)
An API acts as a communication intermediary between different software applications. It defines a set
of protocols, functions, and data structures that applications can use to interact with each other. APIs
are analogous to a common language that allows applications written in different programming
languages to exchange information and collaborate.
The instructor's analogy of people from different countries using hand signals to communicate
exemplifies the core concept of APIs. Just like the hand signals provide a universal way for people to
communicate regardless of their native language, APIs offer a standardized way for applications to
interact irrespective of their underlying programming language or implementation details.
In the context of containerized microservices, APIs play a vital role in enabling communication
between these independent services. By adhering to a common API, microservices can exchange
data and work together to deliver the desired functionality of the overall application.
This chapter has provided a foundational understanding of containers, microservices, and APIs. As
you progress through this course, you'll delve deeper into these concepts and explore how they work
together to build modern, scalable, and resilient software systems.
*See slides below:
