How do you choose the right software architecture?

1 Factor 1: Requirements

The first factor to consider is the functional and non-functional requirements of your software system. Functional requirements describe what the system should do, such as features, use cases, and user stories. Non-functional requirements describe how the system should do it, such as reliability, availability, usability, and performance. You should analyze your requirements and prioritize them according to their importance and complexity. Then, you should look for an architecture that can meet or exceed your requirements and support your desired quality attributes.

2 Factor 2: Constraints

The second factor to consider is the constraints that you have to deal with in your software development project. Constraints are the limitations or restrictions that affect your choices and options, such as budget, time, resources, technology, standards, regulations, and dependencies. You should identify and evaluate your constraints and understand their impact on your software architecture. Then, you should look for an architecture that can accommodate or mitigate your constraints and balance the trade-offs between them.

3 Factor 3: Context

The third factor to consider is the context of your software system. Context is the environment and situation in which your system operates and interacts, such as the domain, the users, the stakeholders, the competitors, and the market. You should understand and anticipate the context of your system and how it might change or evolve over time. Then, you should look for an architecture that can adapt to or influence your context and align with your vision and strategy.

5 Factor 5: Patterns

The fifth factor to consider is the patterns that you use or learn from in your software development project. Patterns are the proven or best practices that provide solutions to common or recurring problems, such as the MVC pattern, the microservices pattern, the event-driven pattern, and the layered pattern. You should study and compare the patterns that are available and suitable for your project and that can address your challenges and opportunities. Then, you should look for an architecture that can implement or integrate your patterns and that can be modular and flexible.

6 Factor 6: Feedback

The sixth factor to consider is the feedback that you get or seek from your software development project. Feedback is the information or opinions that you receive or request from your users, customers, stakeholders, peers, or experts, such as user testing, customer reviews, stakeholder validation, code reviews, or architecture reviews. You should collect and analyze the feedback that is relevant and valuable for your project and that can help you improve your software quality and satisfaction. Then, you should look for an architecture that can incorporate or respond to your feedback and that can be tested and verified.