Question
Considering a multi-tenant SaaS design, is it more efficient to run a distinct API service and separate web client, or combine both into a single deployment for reduced cost?
In my experience, maintaining separate services for the UI and backend offers long-term benefits that often outweigh the initial cost savings from a merged deployment. Decoupling allows development teams to iterate independently, which can lead to reduced downtime and more focused optimizations. A modular approach also mitigates risks during updates and scaling, especially in multi-tenant environments where demands can change rapidly. Even though combining the components may lower upfront expenses, the ease of maintenance and enhanced flexibility in a decoupled architecture have proven more efficient over time.
i lean towards decoupling bc it lets u scale and update parts independently. sure, merging seems cheaper but it can get messy when u need quick fixes. sometimes u gotta invest more now to avoid headaches later.