Dataset of Qualitative Excerpts: A Systematic Literature Mapping on Micro Frontend Definitions, Characteristics, Classifications, Challenges, Implementation Approaches and Communication Methods

Overview

This dataset contains the qualitative data extracted during a Systematic Literature Mapping (SLM) regarding the state-of-the-art of Micro Frontends.

Objective

The primary goal of this literature review was to systematically identify and categorize the core pillars of the Micro Frontend paradigm. The data extraction was guided by four main research axes:

Definition: How authors and researchers formally define the Micro Frontends pattern.

Characteristics: The inherent properties and requirements of a system to be considered an Micro Frontends architecture (e.g., independent deployability, team autonomy).

Classifications: The different taxonomic divisions (e.g., build-time vs. run-time integration, server-side vs. client-side composition).

Challenges: Recurrent technical and organizational hurdles identified in the literature, such as state management, performance overhead, and testing complexity.

Implementation Approaches: The most common ways to implement micro frontend architecture.

Communication Methods: The mechanisms utilized to establish communication in micro frontend-based systems.

Methodology

The excerpts were gathered following a rigorous SLR protocol. The search was performed across major digital libraries (IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, Scopus, and ScienceDirect). The selection process involved automated searching, duplicate removal, and a two-stage screening (title/abstract followed by full-text analysis) based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Data Content

The dataset is organized into four thematic areas, reflecting the primary research questions of the systematic literature mapping. Each file contains verbatim excerpts mapped to their respective primary studies and specific metadata for qualitative synthesis.

1. Definitions of Micro Frontends This section contains direct conceptualizations of the Micro Frontend paradigm.

Columns: Article (Study ID), Excerpt (Verbatim definition), and Page (Location in the original text).

Context: Captures the formal definition of micro frontends architecture in the analyzed studies.

2. Characteristics and Principles This section identifies the inherent properties that define a Micro Frontend architecture.

Columns: Article, Excerpt, Characteristics (Thematic tags), and Page.

Key Attributes Included: Modularity, Technological Agnosticism, Team/Development Independence, Deployment Independence, and Reduced Complexity.

3. Categorizations and Classifications This section documents the technical taxonomies and implementation strategies identified in the literature.

Columns: Article, Excerpt, Categorization (Thematic axis), Values (Specific classification), and Page.

Architectural Axes: 

Division: Horizontal vs. Vertical partitioning.

Composition: Client-side, Server-side, and Edge-side methods.

Integration: Build-time vs. Runtime integration.

Communication: Publish-Subscribe mechanisms vs. Shared State.

4. Challenges This section catalogs the hurdles and trade-offs reported by researchers and practitioners.

Columns: Article, Excerpt, Challenge (Specific hurdle tags), and Page.

Identified Challenges: System Communication, High System Complexity, Code Reusability, UX/UI Consistency, Dependency Management, Increased Payload Size, and CI/CD complexities.

Purpose and Transparency

This data is made available to ensure the transparency and reproducibility of the systematic mapping. It serves as a foundational resource for researchers and practitioners looking to understand the current landscape of Micro Frontends through evidence-based qualitative data.