Apache Dubbo vs Tars: What are the differences?

Introduction

Apache Dubbo and Tars are both popular RPC (Remote Procedure Call) frameworks used for building microservices architectures. While they share some similarities, they also have key differences that distinguish them from each other.

1. Service Discovery Mechanism: One major difference between Apache Dubbo and Tars is their service discovery mechanism. Apache Dubbo uses a registry center approach, where the services register themselves with a centralized registry center. On the other hand, Tars uses a naming service mechanism, where services are registered with a naming server for discovery.

2. Protocol Support: Another key difference is the protocol support. Apache Dubbo supports various protocols such as Dubbo Protocol, RESTful HTTP, RMI, and Hessian, providing flexibility for different use cases. On the other hand, Tars primarily focuses on supporting its own protocol called Tars Protocol, which is optimized for performance and efficiency.

3. Language Compatibility: Apache Dubbo supports multiple programming languages, including Java, .NET, and Golang, allowing developers to use their preferred language for service development. In contrast, Tars initially started with a focus on C++ development and later expanded support for other languages such as Java and Node.js.

4. Configuration Approach: The two frameworks also differ in their configuration approach. Apache Dubbo uses XML-based configuration for defining services and their respective properties. Tars, on the other hand, adopts a more object-oriented approach where service configurations are defined using interfaces and classes.

5. Load Balancing Strategy: Load balancing is an important aspect of distributed systems, and Apache Dubbo and Tars handle it differently. Apache Dubbo supports multiple load balancing strategies such as Round Robin, Least Active, and Weighted Random, allowing developers to choose the strategy that best suits their use case. Tars, on the other hand, provides built-in load balancing strategies like Random, Consistent Hash, and Weighted Round Robin.

6. Community and Ecosystem: The size and activity of the community surrounding a framework play a significant role in its adoption and support. Apache Dubbo has a larger community and ecosystem compared to Tars, which means developers can benefit from a larger pool of resources, libraries, and community support when using Apache Dubbo.

In summary, Apache Dubbo and Tars differ in their service discovery mechanism, protocol support, language compatibility, configuration approach, load balancing strategy, and community size. These differences allow developers to choose the framework that aligns best with their specific requirements and constraints.