servicebare

Servicebare is a term used in software architecture and service design to describe a design principle that requires exposing only the essential set of services or APIs that a system provides, while keeping everything else behind well-defined boundaries. The aim is to minimize surface area, improve security, and simplify maintenance and evolution.

Etymology: the term combines "service" with "bare," signaling a bare minimum interface.

Characteristics include a small, cohesive interface; explicit dependencies; stable and explicit versioning; strong access control; consistent error handling; idempotent operations; and a design that favors composability and clear observability.

Applications: used in API design, microservices, cloud platforms, and enterprise IT to reduce complexity and deployment risk.

Benefits: reduced attack surface, easier evolution and versioning, faster onboarding for developers, and better reliability through tighter boundaries.

Limitations: risk of under-serving clients if essential features are omitted; potential need for additional orchestration and multi-call flows; possible fragmentation as features are moved into separate services.

Examples: a weather data API that exposes only current conditions and a forecast endpoint as the minimal viable surface, with all other features like historical data or alerts provided via separate modular services; internal platforms may apply servicebare to expose customer data through a minimal, auditable surface.

History and reception: the term appears in some design blogs and architectural guidelines but is not a standardized industry term. See also API design, minimal viable product, and microservices architecture.