How do you verify software architecture and design patterns?

1 Review the requirements

The first step to verify software architecture and design patterns is to review the requirements of your software system. Requirements define the functional and non-functional aspects of your system, such as features, performance, security, reliability, and usability. You should check if your software architecture and design patterns support the requirements and meet the expectations of your stakeholders. You can use techniques such as use cases, scenarios, user stories, or acceptance criteria to elicit and validate the requirements.

2 Evaluate the quality attributes

The second step to verify software architecture and design patterns is to evaluate the quality attributes of your system. Quality attributes are the characteristics of your system that affect its behavior, such as modularity, testability, maintainability, extensibility, and scalability. You should check if your software architecture and design patterns enhance or hinder the quality attributes of your system. You can use techniques such as quality attribute scenarios, architectural tactics, or trade-off analysis to measure and improve the quality attributes.

3 Analyze the dependencies

The third step to verify software architecture and design patterns is to analyze the dependencies of your system. Dependencies are the relationships between the components, modules, or layers of your system, such as coupling, cohesion, or abstraction. You should check if your software architecture and design patterns minimize the dependencies and maximize the independence of your system. You can use techniques such as dependency graphs, dependency inversion principle, or dependency injection to visualize and manage the dependencies.

4 Apply the principles

The fourth step to verify software architecture and design patterns is to apply the principles of software design. Principles are the guidelines or rules that help you design your system in a consistent and coherent way, such as SOLID, DRY, or KISS. You should check if your software architecture and design patterns follow the principles of software design and avoid the pitfalls or anti-patterns. You can use techniques such as code reviews, refactoring, or static analysis tools to check and enforce the principles.

5 Use the tools

The fifth step to verify software architecture and design patterns is to use the tools that support your design process. Tools are the software applications or frameworks that help you create, document, or test your system, such as UML, ArchiMate, or xUnit. You should check if your software architecture and design patterns are compatible with the tools that you use and leverage their features and benefits. You can use techniques such as modeling, documentation, or testing tools to create and verify your system.

6 Learn from the experts

The sixth and final step to verify software architecture and design patterns is to learn from the experts in the field. Experts are the people who have extensive knowledge and experience in software design, such as authors, mentors, or instructors. You should check if your software architecture and design patterns are aligned with the best practices and recommendations of the experts. You can use techniques such as reading books, articles, or blogs, taking courses, or attending workshops or webinars to learn from the experts.