Virtual Container Shells for Dependency-Free Micro Front End Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The development and testing of micro front ends (MFEs) are hindered by dependencies on other MFEs, leading to coordination challenges, increased complexity, and prolonged timelines due to reliance on unavailable MFEs, requiring complex planning and coordination across teams.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for micro front end virtualization that provides a virtual container shell to create virtualized MFEs, allowing for independent development and testing through virtualized domain and inline MFEs with downward and loopback dependencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If MFEs are developed as independent user interfaces relying on other MFEs, then flexibility and independent ownership are improved, but development and testing complexity increases due to dependencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual container shell as an intermediary layer between the MFE and the actual dependent MFEs. This shell provides a virtualized environment that simulates the behavior of dependent MFEs, allowing development and testing to proceed without waiting for actual MFE availability. The virtual container acts as a mediator that resolves dependency issues while maintaining the independence of MFE development teams.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual copies of dependent MFEs within the virtual container shell. These virtualized MFEs replicate the functionality and interface of actual MFEs, enabling developers to test their applications against realistic scenarios without requiring the actual MFEs to be deployed or available. This copying approach eliminates waiting time while preserving testing accuracy.
2Reliability
If teams wait for other teams to complete MFEs or for MFE container availability, then integration reliability is improved, but time-to-market increases due to coordination delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables preliminary development and testing actions by providing virtualized MFE environments before actual MFEs are ready. Teams can perform development, testing, and validation activities in advance using the virtual container shell, which maintains integration reliability through simulated environments while eliminating waiting time for actual MFE availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual container shell serves as a mediator that decouples the timing of MFE development from integration requirements. It allows teams to proceed with their work independently while maintaining integration reliability through the virtualized environment, thus eliminating coordination delays without sacrificing integration quality.
3Reliability
If mock shells and skeleton MFEs are created for testing, then testing capability is improved, but workload on teams increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal virtual container shell that can accommodate multiple different MFE types and scenarios through configuration rather than requiring separate mock implementations for each case. This multi-functional approach provides comprehensive testing capability while reducing the overall workload by eliminating the need for teams to create and maintain multiple specialized mock shells.
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are methods and a system for virtualization of micro front ends (MFE). In a development environment, a virtual container shell is provided to load, create, and test virtual MFEs. A virtualized domain MFE is created in the virtual container shell. The virtualized domain MFE is used for the development and testing of a an “real” or actual MFE for end user or customer use. One or more virtualized inline MFEs for use with the virtualized domain MFE, where downward and loopback dependency is provided between the virtualized inline MFEs and virtualized domain MFE, allowing for data to be received and sent.