What Is Software Architecture Patterns?

Software architecture serves as the blueprint for building software, defining the structure, organization, and interactions between system components. Software architecture patterns are predefined solutions to common design challenges encountered during software development to ensure systems are scalable, maintainable, and meet customer requirements. They provide a structured approach for organizing components, defining interactions, and establishing a system’s structure.

What is the importance of software architecture pattern?

Software architecture patterns hold significant importance for it can solve various problems within different domains. For instance, instead of depending on a single server, complex user requests can be easily segmented into smaller chunks and distributed across multiple servers. In another example, testing protocols can be simplified by dividing various segments of the software rather than testing the whole thing at once.

Software architecture is the high-level structure that outlines the system's components and their interactions. Key features include:

Modularity: Divides the system into independent, interchangeable components.

Encapsulation: Hides internal details, reducing system complexity.

Security: Incorporates protective measures.

Performance: Ensures system meets required performance standards.

Different types of Software Architecture Patterns

1. Layered Architecture Pattern:

This architecture uses distinct layers: presentation, business, persistence, and database. It isolates each layer, allowing easy modifications without affecting others. Suitable for quick application development and enterprise applications.

?Usage:

·??????? Quick application development

·??????? Enterprise applications with IT departments

Shortcomings:

·??????? Can lead to unorganized code

·??????? Tight coupling may create complex dependencies

·??????? Modifications may require redeployment

2. Event-driven Architecture Pattern:

?This architecture processes events asynchronously with decoupled components. It helps in handling high demand without crashing.

?Usage:

·??????? Applications with independent modules

·??????? User interfaces

?Shortcomings:

·??????? Testing complex

·??????? Error handling becomes challenging

·??????? Maintaining transaction consistency is complex

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3. Microkernel Architecture Pattern:

It includes a core system and plug-in modules. The core system handles basic functions, and plug-ins provide additional capabilities.

?Usage:

·??????? Applications with basic routines and dynamic rules

?Shortcomings:

·??????? Plugins need proper integration

·??????? Changing microkernel is difficult with many plugins

·??????? Granularity choice is complex

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?4. Micro services Architecture Pattern:

?Micro services are independent components that enhance scalability and decoupling. Netflix is a notable example.

?Usage:

·??????? Rapid development for businesses and web apps

·??????? Websites with small components

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Shortcomings:

·??????? Service granularity is challenging

·??????? Not all tasks can be split into micro services

·??????? Can affect performance

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?5. Space-Based Architecture Pattern:

?This architecture uses processing units and virtualized middleware to handle scalability and concurrency.

?Usage:

·??????? Large-scale systems with high traffic

?Shortcomings:

·???????? Data caching complexity

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6. Client-Server Architecture Pattern:

?It involves a client requesting resources from a server. This structure is flexible and common in applications like email and online banking.

?Usage:

·??????? Email, banking, file-sharing, gaming apps

?Shortcomings:

·??????? Performance bottleneck if servers are incompatible

·??????? Server maintenance can be costly

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7. Master-Slave Architecture Pattern:

A master component distributes tasks to multiple slaves for parallel processing. It’s useful for database and multitasking applications.

?Usage:

·??????? Operating systems, advanced applications, web browsers

Shortcomings:

?·??????? Master failure leads to data loss

·??????? Increased overhead costs

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8. Pipe-Filter Architecture Pattern:

?Data flows through filters connected by pipes, transforming data in steps. Ideal for stream processing like compilers.

?Usage:

·??????? Data processing applications, compilers, UNIX operations

?Shortcomings:

·??????? Data loss between filters

·??????? Performance limited by slowest filter

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9. Broker Architecture Pattern:

This pattern structures distributed systems with decoupled components, managed by a broker.

?Usage:

?·??????? Message broker systems like Apache Kafka, RabbitMQ

Shortcomings:

?·??????? Shallow fault tolerance

·??????? Higher latency and deployment effort

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10. Peer-to-Peer Architecture Pattern:

Peers in this decentralized system act as both clients and servers, increasing capacity as more nodes join.

?Usage:

·??????? File-sharing (e.g., Bit Torrent), cryptocurrency (e.g., Bitcoin)

Shortcomings:

·??????? Security challenges

·??????? Performance depends on node count

·??????? No file backup guarantee