Micro Frontends: A Scalable Approach to Front-end Development
Tags: beginners, webdev, javascript, programming
Published: 2023-03-17 11:56:19


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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">In recent years, monolithic front-end applications have become a standard practice for many developers. </span></div>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">While these applications can be effective for small-scale projects, they can become cumbersome and difficult to manage as they become complex.</span></div>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">This is where micro frontends come into play. Micro Frontends is an architectural approach that involves breaking down a large monolithic front-end application into smaller, more manageable parts. </span></div>
<div></div>
<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">This article will explore micro frontends, their benefits, challenges, implementation, use cases, and future in front-end development.</span></div>
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<h2 data-usually-unique-id="815913856987744858022442"><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">What are Micro Frontends?</span></h2>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">Micro Frontends is an architectural pattern that involves breaking down a large monolithic front-end application into smaller, self-contained parts, each with its technology stack.</span></div>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">Each micro frontend is developed, deployed, and scaled independently and communicated with the others through a well-defined API. By breaking down the application into smaller parts, developers can improve scalability and maintainability and work on different parts of the application simultaneously.</span></div>
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<div>
<h2 data-usually-unique-id="189204424741488519516623"><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">How Micro Frontends Work</span></h2>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">To implement Micro Frontends, developers need to create a clear boundary between different application parts and ensure that each micro frontend communicates with the others through a well-defined API. </span></div>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">Each micro frontend can have its technology stack, which allows for greater flexibility in the development process. </span></div>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">For example, one micro frontend could be developed using React, while another could use Angular or Vue.js. </span></div>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">This approach allows developers to choose the best technology stack for each micro frontend based on the specific requirements of that part of the application.</span></div>
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<h2 data-usually-unique-id="574469310183817155611314"><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">Benefits of Micro Frontends</span></h2>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">Improved Scalability and Maintainability - By breaking down the application into smaller, self-contained parts, developers can improve the scalability and maintainability of the application. </span></div>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">Each micro frontend can be developed, deployed, and scaled independently, which makes it easier to manage the application as it grows.</span></div>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">Faster Development Times - With micro frontends, developers can work on different application parts simultaneously, leading to faster development times. </span></div>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">This approach also allows developers to choose the best technology stack for each micro frontend, which can improve the efficiency of the development process.</span></div>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">Better Code Quality - By breaking down the application into smaller parts, developers can focus on writing high-quality code for each micro frontend. This approach can lead to better code quality and easier debugging.</span></div>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">Easier Debugging - With micro frontends, developers can isolate and debug issues in each micro frontend separately. This approach can make it easier to identify and fix issues in the application.</span></div>
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<h2 data-usually-unique-id="938920490298277481939772"><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">Challenges of Micro Frontends</span></h2>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">Ensuring Cohesive User Experience - One of the challenges of micro frontends is ensuring that the overall user experience remains cohesive, despite the different technologies and frameworks used in each micro frontend. </span></div>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">Developers must ensure the user experience is seamless and consistent across all application parts.</span></div>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i"><b>Establishing Clear Boundaries</b></span><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i"> - To implement micro frontends, developers must establish clear boundaries between different application parts. </span></div>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">This can be challenging, as different application parts may depend on each other.</span></div>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i"><b>Communication between Micro Frontends</b></span><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i"> - To ensure that micro frontends work together seamlessly, developers must ensure that each micro frontend communicates with the others through a well-defined API. This can be challenging, as different micro frontends may have different communication requirements.</span></div>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i"><b>Complexity</b></span><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i"> - With micro frontends, the overall complexity of the application can increase. This can make it more challenging to manage the application as it grows.</span></div>
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<h2 data-usually-unique-id="986572431721402739255573"><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">Implementing Micro Frontends</span></h2>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">To implement micro frontends, developers need to create a clear boundary between different application parts and ensure that each micro frontend communicates with the others through a well-defined API. </span></div>
<div></div>
<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">Developers must also ensure that the overall user experience remains cohesive, despite the different technologies and frameworks used in each micro frontend.</span></div>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i"><b>Creating Boundaries and APIs</b></span><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i"> - To create boundaries and APIs, developers need to identify the different parts of the application and the interactions between them. </span></div>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">This can involve breaking down the application into smaller parts, identifying their dependencies, and defining the interfaces between each micro frontend.</span></div>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">Developers must also ensure that the APIs are well-defined and easy to use, which can significantly impact the application's overall performance.</span></div>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i"><b>Technology Choices</b></span><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i"> - Developers can choose the best technology stack for each micro frontend based on the specific requirements of that part of the application. </span></div>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">This approach can improve the efficiency of the development process, as developers can use the tools and frameworks they are most familiar with. However, it is important to ensure that the different technologies used in each micro frontend are compatible and can work together seamlessly.</span></div>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i"><b>Testing and Deployment</b></span><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i"> - To ensure that micro frontends work together seamlessly, developers must test each micro frontend separately and in conjunction with the other micro frontends. This can involve unit testing, integration testing, and end-to-end testing.</span></div>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">Developers also need to ensure that each micro frontend can be deployed independently, which can improve the scalability and maintainability of the application.</span></div>
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<h2 data-usually-unique-id="080804700926535419082345"><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">Use Cases of Micro Frontends</span></h2>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">M</span><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i"><b>icro frontends can be used in a variety of applications, including:</b></span></div>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i"><b>E-commerce Websites</b></span><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i"> - E-commerce websites can benefit from micro frontends by breaking down the application into smaller, self-contained parts, each with its technology stack. This approach can improve the scalability and maintainability of the application and make it easier to manage as it grows.</span></div>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i"><b>Enterprise Applications</b></span><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i"> - Enterprise applications can benefit from micro frontends by allowing teams to work simultaneously on different application parts. This approach can improve the efficiency of the development process and make it easier to manage the application as it grows.</span></div>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i"><b>High-traffic Websites</b></span><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i"> - High-traffic websites can benefit from micro frontends by allowing different application parts to scale independently. </span></div>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">This approach can improve the application's performance and ensure it can handle high traffic levels.</span></div>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i"><b>Legacy Systems</b></span><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i"> - Micro frontends can modernize legacy systems by breaking down the application into smaller, self-contained parts, each with its technology stack. This approach can improve the application's maintainability and make it easier to manage as it grows.</span></div>
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<h2 data-usually-unique-id="765613858985686127485665"><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">Conclusion</span></h2>
</div>
<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">Micro frontends offer a scalable and maintainable approach to front-end development, allowing developers to break down large monolithic applications into smaller, self-contained parts. </span></div>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">This approach can improve the efficiency of the development process, improve code quality, and make it easier to manage the application as it grows. </span></div>
<div></div>
<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">However, micro frontends also come with challenges, such as ensuring a cohesive user experience and managing the complexity of the application. </span></div>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">To successfully implement micro frontends, developers must create clear boundaries between different application parts, ensure that each micro frontend communicates with the others through a well-defined API, and choose the best technology stack for each micro frontend based on the specific requirements of that part of the application. </span></div>
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<div><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">With the rise of microservices and the continued evolution of front-end development, micro frontends will likely play an increasingly important role in future front-end development.</span></div>
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<h2 data-usually-unique-id="227177638038343283424725"><span class=" author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i">Resource</span></h2>
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<ul class="listtype-bullet listindent1 list-bullet1">
 	<li><span class="attrlink url author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i"><a class="attrlink" href="https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/developing-and-deploying-micro-frontends-with-single-spa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener" data-target-href="https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/developing-and-deploying-micro-frontends-with-single-spa/">freecodecamp</a></span></li>
 	<li><span class="attrlink url author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i"><a class="attrlink" href="https://www.toptal.com/front-end/micro-frontends-strengths-benefits" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener" data-target-href="https://www.toptal.com/front-end/micro-frontends-strengths-benefits">toptal</a></span></li>
 	<li><span class="attrlink url author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qowz80zsz71zp65nz74z73z81zz87zz122z2gz81zz84zz90zz81ztyz73zvd2jz83zpi3i"><a class="attrlink" href="https://blog.learnhub.africa/category/frontend/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener" data-target-href="https://blog.learnhub.africa/category/frontend/">Learnhub articles </a></span></li>
</ul>