Software architecture is the fundamental structure underlying a software system. It encompasses the high-level organization and arrangement of components within the system. Think of it as the blueprints for constructing a building, but in the context of software development.
Here are some key points about software architecture:
- Structures and Elements: Software architecture defines the software elements, their relationships, and the properties of both. These structures help us reason about the system and understand how different parts interact1.
- Quality Attributes: The purpose of architecture is to design a system that meets quality attribute requirements. These attributes include aspects like performance, reliability, scalability, and security. Architects make fundamental choices that significantly impact these attributes2.
- Blueprint for Development: Just as architects create detailed plans for constructing a building, software architects create a blueprint for the software system. This blueprint guides the development process and helps project management allocate tasks to teams and individuals1.
- Infrastructure Design: While application design focuses on the processes and data supporting required functionality, software architecture design focuses on designing the infrastructure within which application functionality can be realized. It ensures that the system’s non-functional requirements (like performance and reliability) are met1.
- Costly Decisions: Software architecture involves making structural choices that are costly to change once implemented. These decisions impact the system’s long-term behavior and are critical to getting things right from the start1.
In summary, software architecture shapes how a system is organized, how its components interact, and how it fulfills its intended purpose. It’s a crucial aspect of software engineering that influences the system’s overall quality and success