book

Fundamentals of Software Architecture

by Mark Richards, Neal Ford

January 2020

Beginner

432 pages

11h 26m

English

O'Reilly Media, Inc.

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Conventions Used in This BookSupplemental MaterialO’Reilly Online LearningHow to Contact UsAcknowledgmentsAcknowledgments from Mark RichardsAcknowledgments from Neal Ford
Defining Software ArchitectureExpectations of an ArchitectMake Architecture DecisionsContinually Analyze the ArchitectureKeep Current with Latest TrendsEnsure Compliance with DecisionsDiverse Exposure and ExperienceHave Business Domain KnowledgePossess Interpersonal SkillsUnderstand and Navigate PoliticsIntersection of Architecture and…Engineering PracticesOperations/DevOpsProcessDataLaws of Software Architecture
Architecture Versus DesignTechnical BreadthAnalyzing Trade-OffsUnderstanding Business DriversBalancing Architecture and Hands-On Coding
DefinitionMeasuring ModularityCohesionCouplingAbstractness, Instability, and Distance from the Main SequenceDistance from the Main SequenceConnascenceUnifying Coupling and Connascence MetricsFrom Modules to Components
Architectural Characteristics (Partially) ListedOperational Architecture CharacteristicsStructural Architecture CharacteristicsCross-Cutting Architecture CharacteristicsTrade-Offs and Least Worst Architecture
Extracting Architecture Characteristics from Domain ConcernsExtracting Architecture Characteristics from RequirementsCase Study: Silicon SandwichesExplicit CharacteristicsImplicit Characteristics
Measuring Architecture CharacteristicsOperational MeasuresStructural MeasuresProcess MeasuresGovernance and Fitness FunctionsGoverning Architecture CharacteristicsFitness Functions
Coupling and ConnascenceArchitectural Quanta and GranularityCase Study: Going, Going, Gone
Component ScopeArchitect RoleArchitecture PartitioningCase Study: Silicon Sandwiches: PartitioningDeveloper RoleComponent Identification FlowIdentifying Initial ComponentsAssign Requirements to ComponentsAnalyze Roles and ResponsibilitiesAnalyze Architecture CharacteristicsRestructure ComponentsComponent GranularityComponent DesignDiscovering ComponentsCase Study: Going, Going, Gone: Discovering ComponentsArchitecture Quantum Redux: Choosing Between Monolithic Versus Distributed Architectures

Fundamental PatternsBig Ball of MudUnitary ArchitectureClient/ServerMonolithic Versus Distributed ArchitecturesFallacy #1: The Network Is ReliableFallacy #2: Latency Is ZeroFallacy #3: Bandwidth Is InfiniteFallacy #4: The Network Is SecureFallacy #5: The Topology Never ChangesFallacy #6: There Is Only One AdministratorFallacy #7: Transport Cost Is ZeroFallacy #8: The Network Is HomogeneousOther Distributed Considerations
TopologyLayers of IsolationAdding LayersOther ConsiderationsWhy Use This Architecture StyleArchitecture Characteristics Ratings
TopologyPipesFiltersExampleArchitecture Characteristics Ratings
TopologyCore SystemPlug-In ComponentsRegistryContractsExamples and Use CasesArchitecture Characteristics Ratings
TopologyTopology VariantsService Design and GranularityDatabase PartitioningExample ArchitectureArchitecture Characteristics RatingsWhen to Use This Architecture Style
TopologyBroker TopologyMediator TopologyAsynchronous CapabilitiesError HandlingPreventing Data LossBroadcast CapabilitiesRequest-ReplyChoosing Between Request-Based and Event-BasedHybrid Event-Driven ArchitecturesArchitecture Characteristics Ratings
General TopologyProcessing UnitVirtualized MiddlewareData PumpsData WritersData ReadersData CollisionsCloud Versus On-Premises ImplementationsReplicated Versus Distributed CachingNear-Cache ConsiderationsImplementation ExamplesConcert Ticketing SystemOnline Auction SystemArchitecture Characteristics Ratings
History and PhilosophyTopologyTaxonomyBusiness ServicesEnterprise ServicesApplication ServicesInfrastructure ServicesOrchestration EngineMessage FlowReuse…and CouplingArchitecture Characteristics Ratings
HistoryTopologyDistributedBounded ContextGranularityData IsolationAPI LayerOperational ReuseFrontendsCommunicationChoreography and OrchestrationTransactions and SagasArchitecture Characteristics RatingsAdditional References
Shifting “Fashion” in ArchitectureDecision CriteriaMonolith Case Study: Silicon SandwichesModular MonolithMicrokernelDistributed Case Study: Going, Going, Gone
Architecture Decision Anti-PatternsCovering Your Assets Anti-PatternGroundhog Day Anti-PatternEmail-Driven Architecture Anti-PatternArchitecturally SignificantArchitecture Decision RecordsBasic StructureStoring ADRsADRs as DocumentationUsing ADRs for StandardsExample
Risk MatrixRisk AssessmentsRisk StormingIdentificationConsensusAgile Story Risk AnalysisRisk Storming ExamplesAvailabilityElasticitySecurity
DiagrammingToolsDiagramming Standards: UML, C4, and ArchiMateDiagram GuidelinesPresentingManipulating TimeIncremental BuildsInfodecks Versus PresentationsSlides Are Half of the StoryInvisibility
Team BoundariesArchitect PersonalitiesControl FreakArmchair ArchitectEffective ArchitectHow Much Control?Team Warning SignsLeveraging ChecklistsDeveloper Code Completion ChecklistUnit and Functional Testing ChecklistSoftware Release ChecklistProviding GuidanceSummary
Negotiation and FacilitationNegotiating with Business StakeholdersNegotiating with Other ArchitectsNegotiating with DevelopersThe Software Architect as a LeaderThe 4 C’s of ArchitectureBe Pragmatic, Yet VisionaryLeading Teams by ExampleIntegrating with the Development TeamSummary
The 20-Minute RuleDeveloping a Personal RadarThe ThoughtWorks Technology RadarOpen Source Visualization BitsUsing Social MediaParting Words of Advice
Chapter 1: IntroductionChapter 2: Architectural ThinkingChapter 3: ModularityChapter 4: Architecture Characteristics DefinedChapter 5: Identifying Architecture CharacteristicsChapter 6: Measuring and Governing Architecture CharacteristicsChapter 7: Scope of Architecture CharacteristicsChapter 8: Component-Based ThinkingChapter 9: Architecture StylesChapter 10: Layered Architecture StyleChapter 11: Pipeline ArchitectureChapter 12: Microkernel ArchitectureChapter 13: Service-Based ArchitectureChapter 14: Event-Driven Architecture StyleChapter 15: Space-Based ArchitectureChapter 16: Orchestration-Driven Service-Oriented ArchitectureChapter 17: Microservices ArchitectureChapter 18: Choosing the Appropriate Architecture StyleChapter 19: Architecture DecisionsChapter 20: Analyzing Architecture RiskChapter 21: Diagramming and Presenting ArchitectureChapter 22: Making Teams EffectiveChapter 23: Negotiation and Leadership SkillsChapter 24: Developing a Career Path

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About the Authors

Mark Richards is an experienced hands-on software architect involved in the architecture, design, and implementation of microservices and other distributed architectures. He is the founder of DeveloperToArchitect.com, a website devoted to assisting developers in the journey from developer to a software architect.

Neal Ford is director, software architect, and meme wrangler at ThoughtWorks, a global IT consultancy with an exclusive focus on end-to-end software development and delivery. Before joining ThoughtWorks, Neal was the chief technology officer at The DSW Group, Ltd., a nationally recognized training and development firm.