There is always more than one way to solve a problem. But not all solutions are created equal. If you don't organize your architecture properly, code can quickly become unreadable and unmanageable over time, causing your project - or your sanity, if that's what you're managing - to crumble. There are general rules to follow that will help guide developers down the best path for success.
Software Architecture
Software architecture is the overall structure of a software system. It defines how software components should be built and shows the connections between them. If it's done well, it will provide blueprints that employees can follow, and you'll need to do less micromanaging—the result: time and money saved.
Importance of Software Architecture
When designing software, a developer should consider many different aspects. The specific considerations depend on the type of software being built - for example, complex or straightforward. There are a few universal guidelines that apply to all kinds of developments. I will look at some of the most critical concerns in this post.
What is a Good Software Architecture?
Software architecture design is the act of deciding what programs need to be included, how they should interact with one another, and why. For example, it typically comprises databases, file formats, code organization, modules, etc. The first step should always be a framework development plan. This plan will set out the broad structure for the software and should include a long-term goal and a list of functional requirements.
Tools for a Good Architecture
Software architecture is a standard topic where a company’s size, the complexity of the product, and desired level of quality are significant factors. In general, small companies won't need as much documentation as large organizations, but good practices have been shared by those that have achieved high maturity in their software design.
Technologies for building a good architecture: Agile development, lean methodology & Extreme programming
Problem areas to watch out for with Software Architecture:
- -Technology lock-in due to proprietary software
- -Immature development processes within the industry
- -Inadequate code knowledge among developer
How to Make Sure Your Code is Well Done
At its most basic level, software architecture is about arranging code to take up as few lines as possible. The key here is not to use fancy constructs or solutions but rather to break the program into a series of small snippets. This will make both the testing and maintenance process easier for making adjustments, tweaks, or other changes that are long overdue. It may sound counterintuitive because it reduces the flexibility of your code only to do one thing well. However, this discipline forces you to think more critically about what each function SHOULD be doing every time you design something new - to decide what's best for it based on its context at hand.
Conclusion
Software architecture is the set of decisions impacting software development, maintenance, and evolution. It deals with designing a coherent system from lots of individual structural members. To build a good architecture, one should consider the environment's infrastructures from which there is a dire need for high maintainability, scalability, and portability. Other considerations in the dialog include cost-effectiveness in deploying an independent product.
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