A way better alternative to microservices... Self-contained systems explained

Self-contained systems (SCS) offer a middle ground between monolithic and microservices architectures by creating independent vertical slices that include their own UI, backend logic, and database without runtime dependencies. Unlike microservices that often create distributed complexity for systems that don't need it, SCS maintains simplicity while providing modularity through business-aligned boundaries. Communication between systems is minimized and handled through UI links or asynchronous messaging. This approach eliminates common microservices problems like circuit breakers, distributed tracing, and complex DevOps while avoiding the monolithic frontend antipattern.