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Anti-Corruption Layer in Microservices: A Simple Guide with Java Examples
Introduction
When you build modern software using microservices, you often need to connect new systems with older ones. These older systems might use outdated designs or have messy code that could affect your new, clean system. This is where the Anti-Corruption Layer (ACL) design pattern becomes very useful.
The Anti-Corruption Layer acts like a shield. It protects your new, well-designed system from the “corruption” of older systems by creating a layer that handles all the translation between the two. This way, your new code stays clean and follows good design rules.
In this article, we’ll learn what an Anti-Corruption Layer is, why it’s important in microservices, and how to build one using Java and Spring Boot. We’ll use simple examples to show how it works in real-world scenarios.
What is an Anti-Corruption Layer?
The Anti-Corruption Layer is a design pattern first mentioned in Eric Evans’ book “Domain-Driven Design.” It’s a special layer in your software that sits between two systems or services that speak different “languages” (use different data models, protocols, or concepts).
Think of the Anti-Corruption Layer as a translator. When you visit a foreign…