Thinking Like an Architect

A common misconception is that software architecture is merely about choosing the right tech stack. In reality, it involves making informed decisions, balancing trade-offs, and dealing with long-term consequences.

Architecture should be viewed as a mindset rather than a title. It involves understanding the context, making informed decisions, and adapting to changes over time.

Context is crucial in software architecture because designing a system that aligns with business needs and organizational structure helps the system thrive.

Event storming and domain storytelling are two techniques that help team members understand business needs by focusing on user behavior and system interaction, rather than technology.

Understanding architectural characteristics, such as security requirements and latency, is essential for designing a system that meets specific business needs and operational constraints.

Modularization can take various forms, from monoliths to microservices, and should be chosen based on the rate of change of features and the need for independent development and iteration.

Communication, inclusion, and documentation are core skills in architecture, allowing architects to effectively convey ideas and build bridges between technical and business teams.

Architects should prioritize areas that provide the most business value, even if it means accepting technical debt in less crucial areas, to ensure strategic goals are met.

The ultimate goal is to create adaptive architectures that can evolve over time, rather than ones that are intended to last forever without change.

Modern developers need to consider multiple aspects such as DevOps, architecture, security, and more, as they take on a variety of tasks due to the shift-left movement.