Clean Architecture Solution Template vs Modular Monolith with DDD
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A .NET project template that generates a starter ASP.NET Core app with Clean Architecture layers.
Open source · MIT
A sample .NET application showing a modular monolith built with Domain-Driven Design, meant as a reference imp
The short answer
Choose Clean Architecture Solution Template if you need…
- Developers starting a new ASP.NET Core web app or Web API who want a structured layout
- Teams that want a Clean Architecture starting point with a chosen database and frontend
- .NET developers learning how layered architecture is laid out in a real project
- Developers who want SQLite by default for quick local work without Docker
Choose Modular Monolith with DDD if you need…
- Developers learning Domain-Driven Design tactical patterns in C#
- Teams comparing modular monolith structure against microservices
- Engineers wanting to see CQRS and unit and integration tests applied together
- Students studying architecture decisions in a realistic codebase
Side-by-side
| Clean Architecture Solution Template | Modular Monolith with DDD | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Framework | Learning resource |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 20.7k | 14.1k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Advanced |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Clone and build from source |
| Main language | C# | C# |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 2 years ago |
What each one is
Clean Architecture Solution Template
This is a solution template for the .NET CLI. It creates a new ASP.NET Core project organized into Clean Architecture layers, with an optional Angular or React frontend and a choice of SQLite, PostgreSQL, or SQL Server as the database. It is meant as a starting point so you do not have to set up the project structure yourself.
Modular Monolith with DDD
This is a complete example application written in C# for .NET, organized as a modular monolith: one deployable program split into separate modules with clear boundaries. It applies Domain-Driven Design, a way of structuring code around the business domain, and uses a Meeting Groups domain modeled on Meetup.com. The README says its purpose is to show these architectural ideas in a full, production-oriented implementation rather than a small demo.
Best for
Clean Architecture Solution Template
- Developers starting a new ASP.NET Core web app or Web API who want a structured layout
- Teams that want a Clean Architecture starting point with a chosen database and frontend
- .NET developers learning how layered architecture is laid out in a real project
- Developers who want SQLite by default for quick local work without Docker
Modular Monolith with DDD
- Developers learning Domain-Driven Design tactical patterns in C#
- Teams comparing modular monolith structure against microservices
- Engineers wanting to see CQRS and unit and integration tests applied together
- Students studying architecture decisions in a realistic codebase
Strengths
Clean Architecture Solution Template
- Installs as a standard .NET template with a documented command and options
- Lets you choose frontend and database at creation time, with SQLite as the default
- Includes a published documentation site and architecture decision records
Modular Monolith with DDD
- The README describes it as a full application with features like authentication and tests, not a toy example
- Documents architecture decisions, C4 diagrams, and testing approaches in detail
- Open source under the MIT license with a large community following
Not ideal for
Clean Architecture Solution Template
- Developers who do not use .NET or C#, since the template only generates ASP.NET Core solutions
- Anyone wanting a minimal single-file app, because the template generates a multi-project solution
- Teams needing a non-.NET stack; the README covers only ASP.NET Core
Modular Monolith with DDD
- Readers who want a quick, minimal starter project, since the README says it is intentionally a full application and not a simple one
- Anyone needing a deployment guide, since the README lists deployment and infrastructure as out of scope
- Teams looking for strategic DDD guidance, since the README explicitly excludes strategic patterns
Trade-offs
Clean Architecture Solution Template
- Generates a sizable multi-project solution, which may be more structure than a small app needs
- Using SQL Server or PostgreSQL requires Docker or Podman, per the README
- The README is truncated here, so details beyond the setup steps are not fully verified
Modular Monolith with DDD
- The README says deployment, containerization, and infrastructure are out of scope, so you will need to work those out yourself
- The README states it reflects one of many valid approaches, so it should not be treated as the only correct design
- The last push in the metadata is from June 2024, so check whether it still fits your current .NET version
Getting started
Clean Architecture Solution Template
Install the template
dotnet new install Clean.Architecture.Solution.TemplateCreate a new solution (example: Angular with PostgreSQL)
dotnet new ca-sln -cf angular -db postgresql -o YourProjectNameModular Monolith with DDD
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/kgrzybek/modular-monolith-with-dddFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Clean Architecture Solution Template and Modular Monolith with DDD?
Clean Architecture Solution Template: A .NET project template that generates a starter ASP.NET Core app with Clean Architecture layers. Modular Monolith with DDD: A sample .NET application showing a modular monolith built with Domain-Driven Design, meant as a reference imp. Clean Architecture Solution Template suits developers starting a new asp.net core web app or web api who want a structured layout, while Modular Monolith with DDD suits developers learning domain-driven design tactical patterns in c#.
Are Clean Architecture Solution Template and Modular Monolith with DDD free?
Clean Architecture Solution Template: Free and open source. Modular Monolith with DDD: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, Clean Architecture Solution Template or Modular Monolith with DDD?
Clean Architecture Solution Template is easier to get started with (rated intermediate); Modular Monolith with DDD is rated advanced and usually needs more setup.
Is Clean Architecture Solution Template or Modular Monolith with DDD more popular?
Clean Architecture Solution Template has more GitHub stars (20.7k) than Modular Monolith with DDD (14.1k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Clean Architecture Solution Template and Modular Monolith with DDD?
Other options people compare them with include Clean Architecture, NativeScript, Wails.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.