How do you use existing architecture patterns?

1 Identify your architectural requirements

Before you choose an architecture pattern, you need to identify your architectural requirements. These are the non-functional aspects of your system that define how it should behave and perform. For example, you might have requirements for availability, latency, throughput, consistency, fault tolerance, or cost. You should prioritize your requirements and rank them according to their importance and impact on your system.

2 Research existing architecture patterns

Once you have your architectural requirements, you can research existing architecture patterns that match them. You can use various sources to find architecture patterns, such as books, blogs, papers, case studies, or online repositories. You should look for patterns that have been applied and tested in similar domains, scenarios, and technologies as yours. You should also compare the benefits and drawbacks of different patterns and how they affect your requirements.

3 Evaluate and select an architecture pattern

When selecting an architecture pattern that best suits your system, you should consider various criteria such as how well the pattern meets your architectural requirements and trade-offs, how easy it is to implement and maintain, how compatible it is with your existing or planned components and technologies, and how flexible it is to accommodate future changes and growth. Additionally, you should assess the risks and costs associated with adopting the pattern, such as the time and effort required to learn and apply it, the technical debt or legacy code it may introduce or eliminate, the amount of testing and validation needed, and the amount of documentation and communication required. Ultimately, you should select an architecture pattern that maximizes your benefits while minimizing your risks and costs.

4 Adapt and customize the architecture pattern

Once you have selected an architecture pattern, you need to adapt and customize it to fit your specific system. You should not blindly follow the pattern as a template, but rather use it as a guideline and inspiration. You should modify the pattern to suit your context, constraints, and preferences. You should also add or remove elements, features, or layers as needed. You should document your adaptations and customizations and explain the rationale behind them.

5 Implement and test the architecture pattern

The final step is to implement and test the architecture pattern in your system. You should use appropriate tools, frameworks, and best practices to implement the pattern according to your design. You should also test the pattern at different levels, such as unit, integration, system, and acceptance. You should verify that the pattern meets your architectural requirements and expectations. You should also monitor and measure the performance and behavior of the pattern in production and make adjustments as necessary.

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?