Software Architect's Handbook

Software architecture is about the important stuff

Computer scientist Ralph Johnson, who co-authored Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software, once said:

"Architecture is about the important stuff. Whatever that is."

Software projects vary, and the amount of design effort, time, focus, and documentation devoted to particular aspects of a software architecture differ. Ultimately, software architecture consists of important design decisions that shape the system. It is made up of the structures and components that are significant to the quality, longevity, and usefulness of the system.

Software architecture consists of some of the earliest decisions that are made for a software system and some of the hardest to change. ...