what is strangler design pattern in ecommerce architectures?

The “Strangler Pattern” is a design pattern used in software architecture to gradually migrate a legacy system to a new system or architecture. It is named after the strangler fig, a plant that grows around a host tree, eventually enveloping it completely. Similarly, in the software context, the Strangler Pattern gradually replaces the functionality of the existing system with a new one.

Strangler Pattern can be applied when you have an existing ecommerce system that needs to be modernized or improved without disrupting the existing business processes and user experience. Instead of rebuilding the entire system from scratch, which can be risky and time-consuming, the Strangler Pattern allows you to replace components or modules incrementally.

Here’s a high-level overview of how the Strangler Pattern works in an ecommerce architecture:

Identify the boundaries: First, you identify the different components or services within your existing ecommerce system. This might include the front-end application, product catalog, inventory management, payment processing, order fulfillment, etc.

Create the new system: Develop a new version of the ecommerce system with improved features, scalability, and maintainability. This new system might use a more modern technology stack, microservices architecture, or any other architectural improvements.

Incremental migration: Instead of switching to the new system all at once, the Strangler Pattern involves gradually migrating functionality from the old system to the new one. This can be done one component at a time, one user group at a time, or one feature at a time, depending on the complexity and size of the system.

Integration: The new system is integrated with the existing system, and the two systems coexist during the migration process. This allows for a smooth transition and reduces the risk of major disruptions to the business.

Monitor and validate: Throughout the migration process, the teams need to monitor the performance and ensure that the new system functions correctly. User feedback and testing are essential to validate that the new system meets the required expectations.

Full transition: Over time, as more and more functionality is migrated to the new system, the old system becomes less critical. Eventually, the entire system is fully migrated to the new architecture, and the old system can be decommissioned.

The Strangler Pattern is particularly useful when dealing with large and complex systems, where a complete overhaul is not feasible or too risky. It allows organizations to interactively improve their systems while maintaining business continuity and providing a seamless experience to their users.