What techniques can you use to evaluate system architecture strengths and weaknesses?

1 Scenario-based evaluation

Scenario-based evaluation is a technique that uses realistic scenarios to test how a system responds to various situations, such as normal operation, stress, failure, or change. Scenarios can be derived from user stories, use cases, quality attributes, or stakeholder concerns. By applying scenarios to a system architecture, you can identify and measure its strengths and weaknesses in terms of functionality, usability, performance, reliability, security, and other criteria. Scenario-based evaluation can help you validate your architecture assumptions, discover potential risks and trade-offs, and prioritize architectural decisions.

2 Architecture reviews

Architecture reviews are a technique that involves examining a system architecture from different perspectives and with different criteria, such as structure, style, patterns, principles, and standards. Architecture reviews can be performed by internal or external reviewers, such as architects, developers, testers, analysts, or experts. The purpose of architecture reviews is to assess the quality, consistency, completeness, and suitability of a system architecture, and to provide feedback, recommendations, and improvement suggestions. Architecture reviews can help you verify your architecture compliance, identify and resolve issues and gaps, and enhance your architecture knowledge and skills.

3 Architecture metrics

Architecture metrics are a technique that uses quantitative measures to evaluate a system architecture's characteristics, such as complexity, cohesion, coupling, modularity, maintainability, and testability. Architecture metrics can be calculated from various sources, such as code, design documents, diagrams, or tools. The goal of architecture metrics is to monitor and track the evolution and health of a system architecture, and to detect and prevent potential problems, such as defects, vulnerabilities, or technical debt. Architecture metrics can help you compare and benchmark your architecture performance, quality, and maturity, and to support your architecture decisions and improvements.

4 Architecture prototyping

Architecture prototyping is a technique that uses a simplified or partial implementation of a system architecture to test its feasibility, functionality, or usability. Architecture prototyping can be done at different levels of detail and fidelity, such as sketches, mockups, wireframes, or models. The aim of architecture prototyping is to explore and validate your architecture ideas, concepts, and alternatives, and to gather feedback from users, stakeholders, or customers. Architecture prototyping can help you refine your architecture requirements, design, and user experience, and to reduce your architecture uncertainty and risk.

5 Architecture simulation

Architecture simulation is a technique that uses a mathematical or computational model of a system architecture to analyze its behavior, performance, or reliability under various conditions, such as load, stress, failure, or change. Architecture simulation can be done using different methods and tools, such as discrete-event simulation, Monte Carlo simulation, or network simulation. The objective of architecture simulation is to predict and evaluate your architecture outcomes, impacts, and trade-offs, and to optimize your architecture parameters and configurations. Architecture simulation can help you improve your architecture efficiency, robustness, and scalability, and to justify your architecture choices and trade-offs.

6 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?