What principles guide your system architecture decisions?

1 Trade-offs and Constraints

Every system architecture decision involves trade-offs and constraints. Trade-offs are the pros and cons of choosing one option over another, such as using a relational database versus a NoSQL database, or using a monolithic architecture versus a microservices architecture. Constraints are the limitations and requirements that you have to consider, such as budget, time, skills, regulations, and dependencies. As a system architect, you have to balance the trade-offs and constraints of your system, and prioritize the ones that are most important for your goals and stakeholders. You have to weigh the benefits and risks of each decision, and document the rationale and assumptions behind it.

2 Modularity and Separation of Concerns

Modularity and separation of concerns are two principles that help you organize your system into smaller and more manageable units that have clear boundaries and responsibilities. Modularity is the principle of dividing your system into modules that can be developed, tested, deployed, and reused independently. Separation of concerns is the principle of separating your system into layers or components that have different concerns or functionalities, such as presentation, business logic, data access, and integration. By applying these principles, you can achieve higher cohesion, lower coupling, better readability, easier testing, and faster development.

3 Abstraction and Encapsulation

Abstraction and encapsulation are two principles that help you hide the complexity and details of your system from other parts or users. Abstraction is the principle of providing a simplified and generalized view of your system that focuses on the essential features and behaviors. Encapsulation is the principle of hiding the internal implementation and state of your system behind a well-defined interface that defines the inputs and outputs. By applying these principles, you can achieve higher modularity, better security, lower maintenance, and more flexibility.

4 Reusability and Standardization

Reusability and standardization are two principles that help you leverage existing solutions and avoid reinventing the wheel. Reusability is the principle of designing and implementing your system in a way that allows you to reuse the same or similar components or modules in different contexts or scenarios. Standardization is the principle of following or adopting common or widely accepted standards, protocols, formats, or conventions in your system. By applying these principles, you can achieve higher quality, lower cost, faster delivery, and easier integration.

5 Scalability and Performance

Scalability and performance are two principles that help you ensure that your system can handle the current and future demands and expectations of your users and stakeholders. Scalability is the principle of designing and implementing your system in a way that allows you to increase or decrease its capacity or functionality according to the changes in the workload or requirements. Performance is the principle of optimizing your system in a way that minimizes the resources or time needed to complete a task or process. By applying these principles, you can achieve higher availability, reliability, efficiency, and user satisfaction.

6 Simplicity and Elegance

Simplicity and elegance are two principles that help you avoid unnecessary complexity and achieve clarity and beauty in your system. Simplicity is the principle of designing and implementing your system in a way that uses the minimum amount of elements or steps needed to achieve a goal or solve a problem. Elegance is the principle of designing and implementing your system in a way that shows harmony, balance, and coherence among its parts or aspects. By applying these principles, you can achieve higher maintainability, usability, and elegance.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?