Systematic Mapping of Support Tools for Microservices

The microservices architecture has gained popularity in software development for its scalability, flexibility, and independent deployment of services. However, there are significant technical challenges in its implementation, particularly concerning the support tools required for efficient operation and maintenance. Previous research has explored the state of microservices architecture, but a comprehensive and categorized analysis of specific support tools for microservices, including those for monitoring, security, automation, and deployment, is still lacking. This study aims to provide a comprehensive view of the current state of support tools for microservices, identifying key technologies and analyzing their applications and limitations. To achieve this goal, a Systematic Mapping Study (SMS) was conducted following the procedures of Petersen and Kitchenham, where 96 primary articles were collected and analyzed. The results include a taxonomy of tools organized into categories such as design and visualization, testing, monitoring, automation, and security, showing the diversity of approaches and their usefulness in specific environments. The research identifies critical areas where support tools require further development, such as the integration of advanced observability and automation tools. This analysis is useful for researchers and practitioners seeking to implement or improve microservices architectures in cloud applications.