Pragmatic Architecture Objectives and Definitions
In the world of architecture, understanding the objectives and definitions is crucial. Explore the purpose of architecture, pragmatic approaches, and the dark side of the profession. Uncover what architecture truly means and its significance in various contexts.
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Presentation Transcript
Objectives So you wanna be an architect... ... but you're not sure what architecture means ... but you're not sure what an architect does ... but you don't want to lose the respect of your developer friends & teammates (who are convinced that "architect" is Latin for "cannot code anymore")
Objectives Architecture does have a purpose beyond retirement for programmers
Objectives High-level ruminations what is architecture? what is a software architect? why does anyone care? Pragmatic approach how do we architect? what are we producing? what does it do for us?
When did architects and architecture|become a joke? WHAT HAPPENED?
Examination of the Problem The Dark Side of the Architecture "Why I Hate Frameworks" http://discuss.joelonsoftware.com/default.asp?jo el.3.219431.12 "Architecture Astronauts" http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/fog0000 000018.html
Examination of the Problem "An architect is someone who ____" ... defines architecture ... gets paid more than "real" developers do ... focuses on issues that have nothing to do with real-world problems ... thinks in terms of clouds, not code ... speaks with big words and Powerpoint slides ... has no real idea what they're doing and yet still has management completely fooled
A definition ARCHITECTURE
Definition ar chi tec ture " arki t kch r", noun 1.building design: the art and science of designing and constructing buildings 2.building style: a style or fashion of building, especially one that is typical of a period of history or of a particular place 3.structure of computer system: the design, structure, and behavior of a computer system, microprocessor, or system program, including
Answer What do we expect of a "good" architecture?
Answer What do we expect of a "good" architecture? "--ities": Integrity, Simplicity, Reliability, Extensibility, Maintainability, Modularity, Recoverability, Composability, Parsimony, Scalability, Security, Performability, Longevity
Answer Make it easy for developers to make "right" decisions where "right" => "right for this project or system" in other words, enable "correctness by default" developers using our architecture "fall naturally into the pit of success"
Answer A (software) architecture is just a set of answers to questions that developers will ask every day
Yes, the same thing that business types talk about ARCHITECTURE IS STRATEGY
Strategy "The core of strategy work is always the same: discovering the critical factors in a situation and designing a way of coordinating and focusing actions to deal with those factors. ... A good strategy honestly acknowledges the challenges being faced and provides an approach to overcoming them. ... bad strategy covers up its failure to guide by embracing the language of broad goals, ambition, vision, and values."
Strategy In the business world, strategy is made up of: vision what is our desired end state? mission what gets us there? execution how do we get there?
Strategy Strategy to architecture vision what is our desired end state? mission what gets us there? execution how do we get there? technology choices structure choices runtime choices
Strategy What makes up a good strategy/architecture? a set of principles that the developers will follow (most of the time) should be extensive, but not comprehensive (cover the "80" in 80/20) nothing is set in stone (heuristics, not algorithms) prescriptive, not descriptive (focus on what to do, not what it looks like) provide signposts, not guard rails
"Simple Rules", by Donald Sull, Kathleen M. Eisenhardt ARCHITECTURE: SIMPLE RULES
Simple Rules What are "simple rules"? decision-making tools heuristics to govern behavior expression of intent and direction
Simple Rules Simple rules are... limited to a handful in number keeping them few in number forces you to focus on what matters most tailored specifically to the problem at hand and to the people who will need them
Simple Rules Simple rules are... apply to well-defined activity or decisions so as to avoid being too broad, general or abstract provide clear guidance but allow for deviation leaves room to exercise creativity and handle unanticipated situations
(of the software kind, anyway) WHAT IS AN ARCHITECT?
Architects Architects ... understand reassess explore lead
Architects This doesn't sound like a guy who draws up plans in his office, alone... Perhaps... ... we need a new metaphor?
Architects Instead of thinking of architecting software like architecting buildings, what if we think of developing software like ... ... an orchestra? ... and the architect is thus... a conductor?
Architects Why do we need this guy, exactly? ("Isn't the orchestra doing all the work?") A conductor ... ... "directs rehearsals and performances" ... "shape(s) a musical interpretation" ... "has many specific responsibilities: accuracy, ensemble, tempo and dynamics, phrasing, balance, style"(Source: http://www.cso.org/main.taf?p=1,1,4,8)
Architects Sometimes the band is small enough ... ... you don't need a guy at the front waving a stick ... and that's OK, because his responsibilities are shared across the rest of the members of the band, in an intuitive or explicit fashion
Architects The architect's role can also be seen as a parallel to that of a movie or stage director ... she sets the background ... she puts the tools in place ... she offers a vision ... she turns the actors loose ... she ensures the overall effect is a good one
Wrapping up SUMMARY
Summary What is architecture? ... a set of answers to questions developers ask on a daily basis ... a set of "simple rules" for developers to follow What is an architect? ... a developer with "broader scope" than the rest of the team ... the person responsible for the vision of the project/system
