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How to start a group of services in the right order

Start a group of microservices in the right order by preparing each service, checking dependencies, tracking ports and logs, and choosing a suitable tool.

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Start the services that others depend on first, confirm each one is ready before the next layer begins, and write the order down so it can be repeated.

OptionWhat it doesCost
DevWebUIStarts, stops and restarts local dev servers from one dashboard, and shows each one's status, CPU, memory and logs. [1]Free, and core features need no account. [1]
Terminal scriptsRuns saved commands to start and stop services.not published
Development environment run configurationsGroups project commands inside a development environment.not published

What you need before you start

Before you start a group of services, make sure each one has its own folder, a start command that works on its own, and a clear list of what it depends on. Microservices often rely on a database, a message queue, or another service that must be running first, so write those links down. Check that the runtime, package versions, and environment settings for each service are ready, since a missing setting is a common reason one service fails after another has started. Note the port each service listens on, and make sure no two services share one. Decide which services the current work requires and which can stay off. Finally, know how each service stops and where its errors appear, because a start order is only useful if you can see when a service is not ready. A short written list of this information makes every later step easier.

Step by step

  1. Write the start order. List each service, the services it depends on, and the port it uses. Start with the services that others depend on, such as databases and message brokers.
  1. Confirm each service starts alone. Run each one by itself once before combining them, and fix any missing settings first.
  1. Start the lowest layer first. Bring up the database and other shared infrastructure, and wait until it accepts connections.
  1. Wait for readiness, not just launch. Check a health endpoint or a port before starting the services that call it, so each dependency is ready when it is needed.
  1. Start the next layer. Bring up the services that depend on the first layer, then repeat until the top of the chain is running.
  1. Label each process. Use clear names in terminals or logs so an error can be traced to one service.
  1. Check the links between services. Send a request through the chain, confirm the responses arrive, and review logs for errors.
  1. Record the working order. Save the commands or a configuration file so the same order can be repeated.
  1. Add automation last. Use a script or tool only after the manual order is proven, so the automation does not hide what each service is doing.

Tools that can do it

DevWebUI is made by the team that publishes this site. It lets developers start, stop and restart local dev servers from one dashboard, and see each one's status, CPU, memory and logs. [1] One small file per repo lists the servers to run, and changes made in the dashboard are written back to that file. [1] For a start order that begins with containers, DevWebUI can start the project's docker compose stack first, wait for its ports to open, and set database connection settings from environment variables. [1] When a port is already taken, DevWebUI shows which process holds it and can free the port if you ask. [1]

Saved scripts are another option for developers who want to control services from the command line. They can group repeated commands so the same setup can run again.

Development environment run configurations can start related services from one place. Check whether the option can wait for one service to be ready before starting the next, since that is what a start order depends on.

Other tools may offer different ways to organize local processes. Check how each one orders starts, how it shows readiness, and which operating systems it supports before choosing.

Common mistakes to avoid

Starting every service at once is a common mistake, because a service that needs a database fails before the database is ready. Skipping readiness checks can make a start order look correct when it is not. Using the same port for two services leads to failures that look unrelated to the port. Leaving old processes running from an earlier session can block new ones from starting. Changing settings without writing them down makes a working order hard to reproduce. Reading only one log window can hide the error that caused a problem in another service. Test the full start again after each change so the order stays understandable.

Frequently asked questions

How do you start microservices in the right order?

Start the services that others depend on first, such as databases and message brokers. Check that each one is ready to accept connections before starting the services that call it. Then move up the chain one layer at a time until everything is running. Writing the order down and testing it once by hand makes it easier to repeat later and to spot which service is failing when a start goes wrong.

Is DevWebUI free for microservice developers?

DevWebUI is free, and its core features need no account. [1] It is open source under the MIT License. [1] The MIT License lets it be used freely. [1] Whether it suits a particular team depends on how the services run locally and which operating system the team uses, so check those details before choosing.

Can DevWebUI start a docker compose stack before other services?

DevWebUI can start the project's docker compose stack first, wait for its ports to open, and set database connection settings from environment variables. [1] One small file per repo lists the servers to run, and changes made in the dashboard are written back to that file. [1] Check that the stack's ports match what the other services expect before relying on the start order.

What does DevWebUI do after a shutdown that was not clean?

If the last shutdown was not clean, the next launch of DevWebUI loads your projects but starts nothing automatically. [1] That gives you a chance to check the start order before any service runs again. Once you are ready, the services can be started from the dashboard, one at a time or together, and stopped or restarted the same way. [1]

Can DevWebUI show which process is holding a port?

When a port is already taken, DevWebUI shows which process holds it and can free the port if you ask. [1] Seeing which process holds a port is useful when a chain of services stops partway through its start. The same dashboard also shows each managed server's status, CPU, memory and logs. [1]

DevWebUI is free, and its core features need no account. [1]

Try DevWebUI

Sources

  1. DevWebUI's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)

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