How to set up the ASCLAB microservices PoC with Docker?

Use the provided scripts in the 'scripts' directory: run 'infra-run.sh' to start infrastructure services like PostgreSQL and RabbitMQ, then 'app-run.sh' for the application services. Note that ElasticSearch may require system-level memory configuration adjustments.

What's the difference between Marten and NHibernate in this project?

Marten is used for event sourcing and domain aggregates in the Policy Service, while NHibernate handles traditional ORM mappings; the project demonstrates polyglot persistence by selecting the appropriate data access technology per service.

ASCLAB PoC vs Microsoft eShopOnContainers: which is better for learning microservices?

ASCLAB PoC offers a focused .NET Core example with a specific insurance domain and detailed blog posts, while eShopOnContainers is a broader Microsoft-backed solution with more production-ready features; choose based on your preference for depth in .NET patterns versus comprehensive ecosystem coverage.

How to add a new microservice to this architecture?

Follow existing patterns: create a .Api project for commands and events, register with Eureka for service discovery, configure Ocelot for API gateway routing, and use RabbitMQ for event-driven communication or HTTP for synchronous calls, as shown in services like Policy or Pricing.

Does this project support Kubernetes deployment?

The README doesn't explicitly cover Kubernetes, but since it uses Docker Compose, it can be adapted with additional configuration for orchestration, though you'd need to replace Eureka with a Kubernetes-native service discovery solution.

How is authentication handled across the microservices?

Authentication is centralized in the Auth Service using JWT tokens; the Ocelot API gateway validates tokens before routing requests to backend services, ensuring security without each service implementing auth logic.

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dotnetcore-microservices-poc

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A simplified insurance sales portal demonstrating microservices architecture with .NET Core, featuring CQRS, service discovery, and asynchronous communication.

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What is dotnetcore-microservices-poc?

ASCLAB .NET Core PoC is an open-source, educational reference implementation of a microservices-based insurance sales portal. It demonstrates how to build a distributed system using .NET Core to handle core insurance workflows like product selection, offer creation, pricing calculation, policy issuance, and agent communication. The project solves the problem of understanding how to architect, integrate, and deploy a complex suite of independent services that communicate synchronously and asynchronously.

Target Audience

.NET developers and software architects looking to learn or validate microservices patterns, CQRS, event-driven communication, and polyglot persistence within a realistic business context. It is particularly valuable for teams planning or transitioning to a distributed systems architecture.

Value Proposition

Developers choose this project because it provides a fully functional, multi-service example with detailed accompanying blog posts that explain the architectural decisions and patterns. It showcases the integration of a wide array of specific .NET libraries and infrastructure components (like Ocelot, Eureka, Marten) in one cohesive solution, offering practical insights beyond theoretical tutorials.

Overview

Very simplified insurance sales system made in a microservices architecture using .NET Core

Use Cases

Best For

Learning microservices architecture patterns with .NET Core
Implementing CQRS and MediatR in a distributed system
Setting up service discovery and API gateways in a .NET ecosystem
Integrating multiple data access technologies (EF Core, Dapper, Marten) within one application
Adding real-time features like chat to a business application using SignalR
Studying event-driven communication between services using RabbitMQ

Not Ideal For

Production teams needing a battle-tested, optimized microservices solution with full DevOps and monitoring
Developers seeking a minimal, focused tutorial on a single .NET technology like MediatR or Ocelot in isolation
Projects with tight deadlines or limited infrastructure where simplifying dependencies is a priority

Pros & Cons

Pros

Comprehensive Educational Resource

Accompanied by a detailed multi-part blog series that explains architectural decisions, CQRS, service discovery, and more, making it an excellent learning tool for distributed systems.

Wide Technology Integration

Showcases integration of numerous .NET libraries and tools like MediatR, RabbitMQ, Ocelot, Eureka, and multiple ORMs (EF Core, Marten, NHibernate, Dapper) in a cohesive business domain.

Event-Driven and CQRS Patterns

Effectively implements modern patterns using MediatR for command/query separation and RabbitMQ for asynchronous event publishing, demonstrating decoupled service communication.

Real-World Business Context

Based on a practical insurance sales system with workflows like pricing, policy creation, and payments, providing relatable examples beyond abstract tutorials.

Cons

Complex Setup and Dependencies

Requires manual setup of PostgreSQL, RabbitMQ, ElasticSearch, and Eureka, or Docker orchestration, which can be cumbersome and error-prone for quick experimentation.

Overwhelming for Specific Learning

The broad integration of many technologies might distract learners focused on a single aspect, such as API gateways or a specific ORM, due to the project's holistic scope.

Lacks Production Optimizations

As an educational PoC, it misses advanced features like comprehensive logging, monitoring, security hardening, or performance tuning needed for real-world deployments.

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