ABP Framework — Modularity

Structure a modular monolith by designing ABP modules that encapsulate entities, services, database integration, and APIs. Use a DDD-aligned layer structure with the Options pattern for configuration to ensure maintainable growth and clean module boundaries.

Use PreConfigureServices for early setup before other dependencies are registered, and ConfigureServices for standard service registration. Selecting the correct ABP module lifecycle method ensures service and middleware configuration executes in the proper order.

Create runtime-loaded plugin modules to achieve hot-plug-like extensibility. This ABP pattern allows you to load external modules dynamically at application startup, enabling flexible feature injection without recompiling the core modular monolith.

Yes, you can extend framework modules by defining custom ABP modules that declare dependencies using DependsOn. This wires your custom logic into the existing module lifecycle and ensures your extensions configure and initialize correctly within the dependency graph.

ABP module startup fails when the dependency graph is misconfigured. Correctly applying DependsOn attributes ensures modules start in the right sequence and shut down safely, resolving tangled codebases and misconfigured startup lifecycles.