At the startup I work at, we began with a poor codebase that was full of problems. Our early projects were riddled with JavaScript bugs that spread like wild weeds, and every day felt like a fight to keep the system running. The chaos of our legacy code was a constant headache for the team.
Legacy systems
The legacy system we inherited was massive and hard to fix. I saw the potential for a better future if we could move to a more modern setup—specifically, switching to TypeScript for its safety and cleaner code. I even went as far as building a new internal framework from scratch. However, there was a major hurdle: the plan to migrate our entire system would have taken about a year and a half with a team of three.
The reality of such a move hit home quickly. My CEO and I agreed that a full migration was nothing short of suicide for the startup. It was far too risky to overhaul everything all at once, especially given our limited resources and the fragile state of our code.
The Microfrontend Lifesaver
Just when we were stuck between a rock and a hard place, microfrontends came into the picture. Our new TypeScript modules didn’t play well with the old, clunky JavaScript code. We needed a bridge that could connect the two worlds without forcing us into a complete, risky rewrite.
We decided to use microfrontends with tools like RSBUILD and Module Federation. This approach let us update the system piece by piece. Instead of rewriting the whole thing in one go, we could slowly replace parts of the old system with new, modern modules. It was like having a safety net that allowed us to test new ideas without taking down the entire show. The Battle in the Trenches
The journey wasn’t smooth from the start. In the early days, integrating microfrontends into our messy legacy system led to many unexpected challenges. We ran into version mismatches, hidden bugs, and timing issues that made us question if we had made the right choice. There were days when it felt like each fix would open up a dozen new problems.
Despite these hurdles, every challenge taught us something valuable. We learned the importance of keeping our modules separate and independent. Over time, as we gained more control and clarity, our legacy system started to stabilize. Small wins here and there built our confidence, and gradually we saw our work paying off—our code became cleaner, more robust, and easier to manage.
A New Approach for Future Projects
As we grew and learned from our early struggles, we began designing new projects with a different mindset. For our newer ventures, we started with a clean slate. We structured every module as a self-contained unit, similar to the way Angular organizes components. This design allowed us to add or change parts of the system without worrying about breaking other areas.
With this fresh start, the need for microfrontends diminished. Since we were building everything with clear boundaries from the beginning, the old problems of tangled dependencies were already solved. It was a much smoother process, and the extra complexity of microfrontends wasn’t necessary anymore. Reflections and Lessons Learned
Looking back, our journey with microfrontends was both a lifesaver and a great learning experience. Here are some of the key takeaways from our adventure:
- Start Small When You Can’t Overhaul Everything : When the entire system is too fragile for a big change, updating one part at a time can save you from disaster.
- Keep Modules Independent: Isolating parts of your code helps prevent one error from bringing down the whole system.
- Embrace Change Gradually: Even if it feels like progress is slow, incremental updates often lead to a more stable and robust system.
Happy coding, and may your modules always load smoothly!