(转)Visual Guide To Software Architecture Types

Visual Guide To Software Architecture Types

Build A Cottage

This is the warm, friendly and comfortable way we all start off writing software. One or two people with some skills get together and just start building until something nice and home like appears. Such an approach makes little programs in which a small family can exist comfortably. However, if the family gets bigger, or its demands more complex, the cottage quickly shows its limitations. Its control systems and infrastructure break down and the enlarged family just does not fit any more.

Unplanned Construction

This is what happens when success with a cottage leads one to think that a simple 'scaling' exercise will get bigger and better results. The one or two person cottage building team is 'upscaled' to several people and ambitious targets are set. This results in a furious rate of code cutting and bolting together and ultimately leads to an controllable mess. Each time a new piece is added in one place it causes something to break and fall off some other place. Chaos reigns supreme and heads will roll.

Off The Shelf - Trailer Home

Well all this cottage and uncontrolled growth stuff is enough to put anyone off development. Maybe we should just buy something off the shelf and live in that? Yes - that is a trailer home. It might work for a bit, but you cannot extend it or alter it. After a while it will look shabby and your friends will laugh at you. OK for a short term solution while your dream home is built - but not a realistic long term solution.

Best Of Breed

This is the first of the vaguely ' architected ' solutions. Except it is hopelessly naive. I have seen this happen many times. People go out and get the very best possible system components and then assume they will magically work together as a cohesive whole. This does not happen, and the vendors all blame one another because they cannot possibly be at fault - they are best of breed.

Architecture Gone Mad

"Coooool! Finally we have the chance to do some architecture!" The new found freedom causes a flurry of self expression. The new system design looks brilliant on paper and wows the management. However, it is hopelessly impractical, rarely works and when it does work, it is only for brief moments.

Solid Architecture - It Works And It Lasts!

OK - this might be a slightly uninteresting solid lump. But, it works and keeps working. Good architecture is figuring out the perfect balance of materials, forces and workmanship that result in something that is fit for purpose - long term.