How do you maintain software architecture over time?

1 Use architectural patterns

Architectural patterns are general, reusable solutions to common architectural problems. They provide a common vocabulary, a set of guidelines, and a reference model for designing software systems. Some examples of architectural patterns are layered, client-server, microservices, event-driven, and peer-to-peer. By using architectural patterns, you can benefit from the proven experience and knowledge of other developers, avoid reinventing the wheel, and ensure consistency and coherence in your software architecture.

2 Apply design principles

Design principles are fundamental rules or concepts that guide the design of software systems. They help you achieve desirable qualities such as simplicity, modularity, cohesion, coupling, abstraction, encapsulation, and polymorphism. Some examples of design principles are SOLID, DRY, YAGNI, and GRASP. By applying design principles, you can improve the readability, testability, extensibility, and maintainability of your code, and avoid common pitfalls and anti-patterns.

3 Document your architecture

Documentation is a key aspect of maintaining software architecture over time. It helps you communicate your architectural decisions, rationale, and trade-offs to other stakeholders, such as developers, testers, managers, and clients. It also helps you keep track of the changes and evolution of your architecture, and identify any gaps or inconsistencies. Some examples of architectural documentation are diagrams, views, models, patterns, styles, and standards. By documenting your architecture, you can ensure clarity, transparency, and alignment in your software development process.

4 Review your architecture

Reviewing your architecture is a process of evaluating and validating your architectural design against your requirements, constraints, and quality attributes. It helps you identify and resolve any architectural issues, risks, or debts that may affect your software system. It also helps you verify and improve the alignment of your architecture with your business goals and stakeholder expectations. Some examples of architectural review methods are ATAM, SAAM, and ARID. By reviewing your architecture, you can ensure quality, reliability, and suitability of your software system.

5 Refactor your architecture

Refactoring your architecture is a process of improving and modifying your architectural design without changing its functionality. It helps you adapt your architecture to changing requirements, technologies, or environments. It also helps you remove any architectural smells, such as rigidity, fragility, immobility, viscosity, or redundancy. Some examples of architectural refactoring techniques are splitting, merging, extracting, inlining, and relocating components or interactions. By refactoring your architecture, you can ensure flexibility, scalability, and efficiency of your software system.

6 Learn from others

Learning from others is a process of gaining insights and feedback from other architects, developers, or experts in your domain or field. It helps you discover new ideas, trends, or best practices that may improve your software architecture. It also helps you avoid common mistakes, challenges, or pitfalls that may affect your software system. Some examples of learning from others methods are reading books, blogs, or articles, attending courses, webinars, or conferences, joining communities, forums, or networks, and asking questions, seeking advice, or requesting reviews. By learning from others, you can ensure continuous improvement and innovation in your software architecture.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?