Everyone wants to build like Netflix, but most startups should start as a monolith. We break down the cost, complexity, and performance of both approaches.

**Monolithic Architecture:**
- **Simplicity**: Easy to develop, test, and deploy.
- **Cost-Effective**: Lower initial development costs.
- **Performance**: Faster communication between components.

**Microservices Architecture:**
- **Scalability**: Easier to scale individual components.
- **Flexibility**: Use different technologies for different services.
- **Resilience**: Failure in one service doesn't affect the entire application.

**When to Choose Monolith:**
- Small team
- Simple application
- Limited budget
- Need to ship quickly

**When to Choose Microservices:**
- Large team
- Complex application
- Need to scale individual components
- Want to use different technologies for different services

**Key Considerations:**
- **Development Complexity**: Microservices require more complex infrastructure.
- **Deployment**: Microservices require more complex deployment processes.
- **Communication**: Inter-service communication can be slower and more error-prone.
- **Testing**: Testing microservices can be more complex.

The best architecture depends on your specific requirements. For most startups, a monolith is the best starting point, and you can transition to microservices as your application grows.