Fundamentals of Software Architecture

Chapter 9. Foundations

Architecture styles, sometimes called architecture patterns, describe a named relationship of components covering a variety of architecture characteristics. An architecture style name, similar to design patterns, creates a single name that acts as shorthand between experienced architects. For example, when an architect talks about a layered monolith, their target in the conversation understands aspects of structure, which kinds of architecture characteristics work well (and which ones can cause problems), typical deployment models, data strategies, and a host of other information. Thus, architects should be familiar with the basic names of fundamental generic architecture styles.

Each name captures a wealth of understood detail, one of the purposes of design patterns. An architecture style describes the topology, assumed and default architecture characteristics, both beneficial and detrimental. We cover many common modern architecture patterns in the remainder of this section of the book (Part II). However, architects should be familiar with several fundamental patterns that appear embedded within the larger patterns.

Fundamental Patterns

Several fundamental patterns appear again and again throughout the history of software architecture because they provide a useful perspective on organizing code, deployments, or other aspects of architecture. For example, the concept of layers in architecture, separating different concerns based on functionality, is as ...