Here is an idea: Implement the same system using two different approaches: 1. Micro-services 2. Libraries. Using the same number of micro-services and libraries (to make the comparison accurate). Now, if you are smart, you will probably realize that the best way to do this is to implement a library for each micro-services and then add the additional code needed by a micro-service on top (communication, configuration, routing, fail over etc.) But hold on ... if you are smart enough to realize this, then you should also be smart enough to realize that micro-services require all the code the libraries need PLUS additional code to do what only micro-services require (communication, configuration, routing, fail over etc.) Which should tell you before you even start the experiment that micro-service architectures are inherently more complex than building applications using independent libraries.