Most backend systems do not collapse because of traffic. They collapse because complexity grows faster than understanding.
The pattern is predictable. Business logic bleeds across layers. Transaction boundaries become fuzzy. Orchestration happens in ways that cannot be traced. Eventually, every change feels dangerous, forcing a choice between rewriting everything as microservices or living with the mess.
There is a better path. This post presents an architecture that stays maintainable as monoliths grow, providing clear ownership without forcing premature distribution.