It's awesome that you're diving into microservices! While a shared database might seem like a neat solution to prevent data duplication, it often leads to the exact "hacking" challenges you mentioned, especially with different ORMs in play. Microservices thrive on autonomy, so consider separate databases for each service, focusing on clear communication through well-defined APIs. This not only aligns with microservices principles but also allows each service to choose the database and ORM that best suits its needs. Remember, the beauty of microservices lies in their flexibility and independence. Why use microservices architecture? It offers scalability, fault isolation, and the ability to choose the right tools for each job—embracing the diversity of frameworks and languages your team loves.