"Immutable architecture is something to watch and learn from, and the author succeeds in presenting it very well." (A. Mariën, Computing Reviews, August 19, 2021)
Part I: Definition
Chapter 1. Why Immutable Architecture
Chapter 2. Forms of Immutable Architecture
Chapter 3. How to Read a Historical Model
Part II: Application
Chapter 4. Location Independence
Chapter 5. Analysis
Chapter 6. State Transitions
Chapter 7. Security
Chapter 8. Patterns
Part III: Implementation
Chapter 9. Query Inverses
Chapter 10. SQL Databases
Chapter 11. Communication
Chapter 12. Generated Behaviors
Michael L. Perry has built upon the works of mathematicians such as Bertrand Meyer, Leslie Lamport, and Donald Knuth to develop a mathematical system for software development. He has captured this system in a set of open source projects. Michael often presents on math and software at events and online. You can find out more at qedcode.com.
This book teaches you how to evaluate a distributed system from the perspective of immutable objects. You will understand the problems in existing designs, know how to make small modifications to correct those problems, and learn to apply the principles of immutable architecture to your tools.
Most software components focus on the state of objects. They store the current state of a row in a relational database. They track changes to state over time, making several basic assumptions: there is a single latest version of each object, the state of an object changes sequentially, and a system of record exists.
This is a challenge when it comes to building distributed systems. Whether dealing with autonomous microservices or disconnected mobile apps, many of the problems we try to solve come down to synchronizing an ever-changing state between isolated components. Distributed systems would be a lot easier to build if objects could not change.
After reading The Art of Immutable Architecture, you will come away with an understanding of the benefits of using immutable objects in your own distributed systems. You will learn a set of rules for identifying and exchanging immutable objects, and see a collection of useful theorems that emerges and ensures that the distributed systems we build are eventually consistent. Using patterns, you will find where the truth converges, see how changes are associative, rather than sequential, and come to feel comfortable understanding that there is no longer a single source of truth. Practical hands-on examples reinforce how to build software using the described patterns, techniques, and tools. By the end, you will possess the language and resources needed to analyze and construct distributed systems with confidence.
The assumptions of the past were sufficient for building single-user, single-computer systems. But as we expand to multiple devices, shared experiences, and cloud computing, they work against us. It is time for a new set of assumptions. Start with immutable objects, and build better distributed systems.
What You Will Learn:
Evaluate a distributed system from the perspective of immutable objects
Recognize the problems in existing designs, and make small modifications to correct them
Start a new system from scratch, applying patterns
Apply the principles of immutable architecture to your tools, including SQL databases, message queues, and the network protocols that you already use
Discover new tools that natively apply these principles
This book is for software architects and senior developers. It contains examples in SQL and languages such as JavaScript and C#. Past experience with distributed computing, data modeling, or business analysis is helpful.
Michael L. Perry has built upon the works of mathematicians such as Bertrand Meyer, Leslie Lamport, and Donald Knuth to develop a mathematical system for software development. He has captured this system in a set of open source projects. Michael often presents on math and software at events and online. You can find out more at qedcode.com.