Hexagonal Architecture: Robust Software With Interfaces Instead of Layers
We all know this situation: The older and larger an application becomes, the more complex and expensive it is to extend and maintain. The widely used layered architecture is insufficient as a solution: Direct and indirect dependencies from all layers to the database and other infrastructure components often lead to blurred layer boundaries and a tight coupling of technical and business code. Hexagonal architecture places business logic at the center and isolates technical details behind interfaces (ports) using adapters. This allows business and technical code to be developed and tested independently of each other. Starting with the goals of a software architecture and a critical look at layered architecture, we take an in-depth look at hexagonal architecture. You’ll learn how the Dependency Rule ensures that there are no dependencies from business code to technical code—and how the application core can still access infrastructure. Does hexagonal architecture fulfill the goals of a software architecture? What challenges does it bring? How does it differ from Onion and Clean Architecture, and what synergies emerge when combined with microservices and Domain-Driven Design? Armed with new knowledge, you’ll be able to improve the quality and longevity of your software projects and respond more quickly to new requirements in the future. 👉 Links and slides https://www.happycoders.eu/hex-arch-l... 👉 All articles in the series: What is Hexagonal Architecture? https://www.happycoders.eu/software-c... Hexagonal Architecture with Java: https://www.happycoders.eu/software-c... Adding a Database Adapter: https://www.happycoders.eu/software-c... Hexagonal Architecture with Quarkus: https://www.happycoders.eu/software-c... Hexagonal Architecture with Spring Boot: https://www.happycoders.eu/software-c... 👉 Interested in regular tips on Java programming, algorithms, and data structures? Subscribe to the HappyCoders newsletter: https://www.happycoders.eu/newsletter/ 👉 Java Training https://www.happycoders.eu/java-train... 📩 Contact Contact form: https://www.happycoders.eu/contact/ Email: [email protected]

Hexagonal Architecture (Alistair Cockburn)

NestJS Hexagonal Architecture | Full Project

Implementing Domain Driven Design with Spring by Maciej Walkowiak @ Spring I/O 2024

Stream Gatherers: Write Your Own Stream Operations!

Airline Booking System Design: The Interview Question Everyone Gets

Hexagonal Architecture: What You Need To Know - Simple Explanation

Modern Architecture 101 for New Engineers & Forgetful Experts - Jerry Nixon - NDC Copenhagen 2025

Distributed Transactions Explained: 2 Phase Commit vs Saga Pattern

From Compressed OOPs to Compact Headers: JVM Internals Explained Clearly

Zig 2026: No-AI Policy, $670K Foundation, Left GitHub & Why Zig Isn’t 1.0 - Andrew Kelley Explains

Hexagonal Architecture in Practice, Live Coding That Will Make Your Applications More Sustainable

Why Shopify Rejected Microservices (And What They Did Instead)

Stop Mixing FastAPI with Business Logic: Fix It with Ports & Adapters

Domain centric? Why Hexagonal, Onion and Clean architecture are answers to the wrong question by Oli

Every Frontend Architecture Pattern Explained in 23 Minutes

Turing Award Winner: Disagreeing with Google, Postgres, Future Problems | Mike Stonebraker

The New Java Best Practices by Stephen Colebourne

System Design Course – APIs, Databases, Caching, CDNs, Load Balancing & Production Infra

System Design was HARD until I Learned these 30 Concepts

