Back in the day it was called Service Oriented Architecture. Then CORBA happened and that became a curse word, and guess we will repeat this when HTTP/4.0 will feature RPC?
CORBA is a bit different: that's more about making remote code appear as if it were local, and having the network disappear. SOA isn't necessarily RPC: it could be message passing, for example. Async invocation like that in RPC is much tougher.
I do think the distinction between "services" and "microservices" is a bit overblown. Clearly something like IMAP is not a microservice - it contains auth, storage, search and a few other pieces. Calling LDAP a microservice is potentially a stretch for similar reasons. But fundamentally, the concerns and architecture of both are extremely similar.
> I do think the distinction between "services" and "microservices" is a bit overblown.
I just realized that adding micro- or nano- or -oriented is a great way to create a buzzword in the current climate. Say, microsecurity, nanolearning, or anger-oriented user interface.
