Software architecture framework vs model

Introduction

Over the years, software architecture models and frameworks have come a long way, evolving to address the challenges and complexities in the world of software development. Starting from the early days of the Zachman Framework, moving on to the more comprehensive TOGAF, then to the 4+1 architectural view model, and finally, to the more recent C4 model, the progress has been significant. Each of these models have provided architects and developers with new ways to approach software design and address the ever-changing demands of the industry.

However, something is still not exactly right, and we have set out to fix this problem.

As much as these frameworks have evolved, their real-world application in complex digital transformations has been a challenging endeavor. Advanced frameworks like TOGAF and Zachman, while offering a comprehensive and structured approach to software architecture, can be difficult to implement effectively in practical situations. The sheer complexity of these frameworks can sometimes make it hard for architects and developers to derive tangible value from them, especially when dealing with large-scale, intricate digital transformation projects.

In this article, we will explore the evolution of software architecture models, their strengths and limitations, and how newer models like C4 aim to strike a balance between complexity and practicality to make a real difference in the world of software architecture.

We are taken it one step further by arguing that we should experiment and collaborate around the creation of new and more suitable software architecture models via an open-source project. We link to one such project that for now presents C4 and a revised model called C5:

https://www.softwarearchitecturemodels.com/

This document is derived from the following open-source project.

GitHub - Sprinting-Software/software-architecture-models: This is an initiative to allow…

A Short History of Enterprise and Software Architecture Frameworks

Let us have a condensed overview of the history of some selected enterprise and/or software architecture frameworks.

Zachman Framework:

• Introduced by John A. Zachman in the 1980s as an approach to enterprise architecture.
• Provides an ontology, that is, a classification system that can be used to organize software architecture artefacts (documents)
• Based on a 6×6 matrix, where each cell represents an intersection between a perspective (who, what, when, where, why, how) and an audience perspective (planner, owner, designer, builder, implementer, user).
• Considered one of the earliest and most influential frameworks in the field of enterprise architecture.
• Mainly focused on the holistic representation of an organization’s architecture rather than being specifically tailored to software systems.
• We link to the official source on the Zachman Framework.

TOGAF (The Open Group Architecture Framework):

• Developed in the 1990s by The Open Group, an international consortium of organizations.
• A comprehensive, industry-standard framework for enterprise architecture that guides organizations through the entire process of creating, maintaining, and managing their architecture.
• Contains a detailed methodology called the Architecture Development Method (ADM) that provides a step-by-step approach for designing and implementing an enterprise architecture.
• Offers a wide range of tools, techniques, conceptual models and reference models to support architects and developers.
• While extremely thorough, it can be complex and time-consuming to implement, especially for smaller organizations or projects.

4+1 Architectural Model:

• Consists of five standard diagrams (also called views) called Logical, Development, Process and Physical View plus Scenarios.
• The Logical View represents the main functional elements, their relationships, and interactions in terms of object-oriented abstractions.
• The Process View focuses on the system’s concurrency and synchronization aspects, while the physical view deals with the system’s deployment and distribution aspects.
• The Development View illustrates the software’s organization in terms of modules and components, while the Scenario View (also known as the use case view) captures end-user functionality and interactions.
• The key concepts of this model include Component, Connectors, Module, Sub-System, Layer, Process, Message, Event and more.
• link to the original article for reference.

C4 Model:

• The C4 model starts from four key concepts: Software System, Container, Component and Code. These four concepts form a hierarchical set of abstractions that are suited to describe the static structure of a software system.
• The C4 model favours simplicity over sophistication, making it easy to understand and reason about software architecture.
• Although the C4-model is notation-agnostic, in most circumstances C4-diagrams are easily recognisable due to simplicity of the model and the clear example diagrams presented on the c4-website

Let us conclude this overview by having a concise comparison, highlighting what makes each of the models distinctly different from the other models:

• Zachman Framework provides a generic and abstract ontology (classification system) for enterprise architecture artefacts.
• TOGAF is an extensive and complete Enterprise Architecture framework providing both an elaborate conceptual model around enterprise architecture, a structure for architectural artefacts, a methodology for architects, tools, guidelines and techniques.
• The 4+1 Model provides a standard for five specific architecture diagrams based on a particular set of concepts, notation and diagramming conventions.
• The C4 Model provides a concise terminology around four key concepts used to describe the static structure of a software system, together with a flexible notation guide and a handful of architecture diagram examples to guide software architecture.

To boil it down even more, we can say:

• Zachman Framework provides a generic and abstract structure for Enterprise Architecture artefacts (documents)
• TOGAF provides an all-inclusive framework for Enterprise Architecture
• The 4+1 Model provides a standard for 5 software architecture diagrams
• The C4 Model provides a four key concetps together with some conventions of how to describe the static structure of a software system.

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