The Fundamental Concerns of Software Architecture
Software Architecture consists of 18 "functional domains"
The key concerns - also called "domains" or "aspects" - of business software architecture are as follows:
The User Interface (Presentation Layer) that handles all aspects of user interaction with the system, including visual elements, input handling, and user experience design:
Screen layouts and forms: Visual organization and arrangement of UI elements (buttons, fields, tables, etc.) that users interact with
Input validation: Checking user-entered data for correctness and completeness before processing
User feedback/messages: System responses that inform users about the results or status of their actions
Navigation flow: The paths and sequences users can take to move between different screens or sections
Responsive design: Adapting the interface to work well across different screen sizes and devices
Accessibility features: Ensuring the interface is usable by people with disabilities (screen readers, keyboard navigation, etc.)
Internationalization/localization: Adapting the interface for different languages and cultural preferences
Business Logic (Application Layer) that implements the core rules, calculations, and processes that represent the actual business operations and requirements:
Core algorithms: Step-by-step procedures for solving specific business problems
Business rules: Constraints and conditions that enforce business policies and requirements
Calculations: Mathematical or logical operations performed on data
Workflow management: Controlling and tracking the sequence of steps in business processes
State management: Tracking and maintaining the current condition or status of business objects
Data validation: Verifying that data meets business requirements and constraints
Business process orchestration: Coordinating multiple business activities and their interactions
Data Management: Controls how data is stored, retrieved, validated, and maintained throughout its lifecycle in the system
Storage: Writing data to persistent storage systems like databases
Retrieval and queries: Reading and searching for specific data from storage systems
Data validation: Ensuring data integrity and consistency before storage
Data transformation: Converting data between different formats or structures
Caching: Temporarily storing frequently accessed data for faster retrieval
Data synchronization: Keeping data consistent across different systems or locations
Backup/recovery: Protecting data against loss and restoring it when needed
Data archiving: Moving older data to long-term storage while maintaining accessibility
Security: Ensures system and data protection through user verification, access control, and various security measures
Authentication: Verifying that users are who they claim to be
Authorization: Controlling what authenticated users can and cannot do
Encryption/decryption: Protecting sensitive data by converting it to/from encoded formats
Audit logging: Recording who did what and when for security tracking
Session management: Tracking and controlling user sessions across interactions
Security policy enforcement: Implementing and maintaining security rules and requirements
Data privacy compliance: Ensuring handling of sensitive data meets privacy regulations
Integration: Manages how the system connects and communicates with other systems, services, and external components
API management: Controlling how applications communicate with each other through interfaces
Message queuing: Managing asynchronous communication between system components
Service orchestration: Coordinating multiple services to work together
File transfer: Moving files between systems securely and reliably
Protocol handling: Managing different communication methods between systems
Data format conversion: Transforming data between different systems' formats
External system connectivity: Managing connections to outside systems and services
Error Handling: Manages system problems and exceptions, including detection, reporting, and recovery procedures
Exception management: Capturing and appropriately handling system errors and unexpected conditions
Logging: Recording system events and errors for troubleshooting and auditing
Monitoring: Actively watching system behavior for problems or anomalies
Diagnostics: Tools and processes for investigating system issues
Recovery procedures: Steps to restore normal operation after failures
Error reporting: Communicating errors to users and administrators appropriately
Fault tolerance: Maintaining system operation despite component failures
Performance Management: Ensures the system operates efficiently and responsively under various load conditions
Resource optimization: Efficiently using system resources like CPU and memory
Load balancing: Distributing work across system components to maintain performance
Caching strategies: Storing frequently accessed data for quick retrieval
Connection pooling: Managing and reusing database connections efficiently
Memory management: Controlling application memory usage and cleanup
Thread management: Coordinating concurrent operations efficiently
Performance monitoring: Tracking system performance metrics
Configuration Management: Handles system settings, environmental parameters, and how the system can be adjusted without code changes
System settings: Managing application parameters and options
Environment configuration: Handling different settings for development, testing, and production
Feature toggles: Enabling/disabling functionality without code changes
Dynamic configuration: Changing system behavior without restarts
Deployment settings: Managing configuration for different deployment scenarios
Version control: Tracking changes to configuration over time
Compliance & Governance: Ensures the system operates within legal, regulatory, and organizational policy frameworks
Regulatory compliance: Meeting legal and industry requirements
Policy enforcement: Implementing organizational rules and standards
Audit trails: Recording activities for compliance verification
Data retention: Managing how long different types of data are kept
Legal requirements: Ensuring system meets applicable laws
Industry standards: Conforming to relevant technical and business standards
Documentation: Maintaining required records and procedures
Communication: Manages all aspects of data exchange between different parts of the system and with external systems
Network protocols: Managing different methods of network communication
Inter-process communication: Coordinating between system components
Web services: Managing HTTP-based service interactions
Event handling: Processing and responding to system events
Message routing: Directing messages to appropriate system components
Notification systems: Sending alerts and updates to users and systems
Testing Support: Provides capabilities to verify system functionality and reliability through various testing methods
Unit testing hooks: Points for testing individual components
Integration testing support: Facilities for testing component interactions
Test data management: Handling data needed for testing
Mocking interfaces: Simulating components for testing purposes
Quality assurance: Ensuring system meets quality standards
Automated testing: Supporting programmatic testing procedures
Deployment & Operations: Manages how the system is installed, updated, and maintained in production environments
Installation procedures: Steps for setting up the system
Updates/patches: Managing system modifications
Service startup/shutdown: Controlling system operation
Health monitoring: Checking system operational status
Backup procedures: Protecting system data and configuration
System maintenance: Routine upkeep and administration
DevOps support: Supporting continuous integration/deployment
Reporting & Analytics: Provides insights into business operations through data analysis and presentation
Report generation: Creating formatted output of system data
Data analysis: Processing data for insights
Business intelligence: Extracting business insights from data
Metrics collection: Gathering system and business metrics
Dashboard generation: Creating visual data presentations
Export capabilities: Moving data to external formats and systems
Transaction Management: Ensures data consistency and reliability when processing business transactions
ACID properties: Ensuring data consistency and reliability
Concurrency control: Managing simultaneous operations
State consistency: Maintaining data integrity across operations
Rollback procedures: Reversing failed transactions
Distributed transactions: Managing operations across multiple systems
User Management: Handles user-related functionality including profiles, preferences, and account administration
User profiles: Managing user information and preferences
Role management: Controlling user access and permissions
Preferences: Handling user-specific settings
Activity tracking: Recording user actions
Account management: Handling user account lifecycle
System Administration: Provides tools and capabilities for managing and maintaining the system itself
User administration: Managing system users and access
System configuration: Controlling system settings and behavior
Resource management: Allocating and tracking system resources
License management: Tracking and maintaining software licenses
Maintenance tasks: Routine system maintenance activities
Help & Support: Provides assistance and guidance to users through various channels and formats
Documentation: User and system documentation
Context-sensitive help: Providing situation-specific assistance
Training materials: Resources for learning system use
Support ticket system: Managing user support requests
FAQ management: Maintaining frequently asked questions and answers
Mobile & Cross-platform Support: Ensures the system works effectively across different devices and platforms
Device compatibility: Ensuring system works across different devices
Platform-specific features: Managing platform-dependent functionality
Offline capabilities: Supporting operation without network connection
Synchronization: Keeping data consistent across platforms
Device management: Handling device-specific requirements
Documentation & Architecture Specification
Architecture Design: Detailed description of the system's structure, components, and their relationships
Design Patterns: Documentation of architectural patterns and design decisions used
System Diagrams: Visual representations of system architecture (component diagrams, deployment diagrams, etc.)
Technical Specifications: Detailed technical requirements and implementation guidelines
API Documentation: Comprehensive documentation of all system interfaces
Data Dictionary: Definitions of data structures, entities, and their relationships
Coding Standards: Guidelines and conventions for code development
Infrastructure Documentation: Details of deployment environment and infrastructure requirements
Security Documentation: Security architecture, protocols, and procedures
Change History: Record of architectural decisions and changes over time
Dependencies: Documentation of system dependencies and third-party components
Recovery Procedures: Disaster recovery and business continuity documentation
Maintenance Guide: Instructions for system maintenance and updates
Integration Guide: Documentation of integration points and procedures
Performance Specifications: Performance requirements and benchmarks
Compliance Documentation: Records of compliance with standards and regulations