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| Criterion |  Agile Affinity Estimation |  Architecture C4 Model |  Agile Ideal Days |  Architecture arc42 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When many tasks need to be classified quickly, it sorts them by perceived effort and similarity. It reduces the effort of fine-grained estimation for large volumes. | The C4 Model makes a system legible across several resolution levels, from context down to code. It suits situations where different audiences need to understand the same architecture from different altitudes. | When effort needs to be thought of as real working time, it offers a simple common denominator for comparison. It sorts work by value, risk, and delivery ability. The result is captured as Ideal Day Estimates, Assumption Notes, and Capacity Caveats. | arc42 structures architecture knowledge so teams can document system, decisions, and risks consistently. The template builds a living understanding of the architecture instead of scattered notes. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 30-90 min | 1-4 h | 15-60 min | 1-2 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 3-12 | 1-5 | 2-9 | 1-4 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Affinity Size Map, Grouped Estimates, Unclear Items | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Ideal Day Estimates, Assumption Notes, Capacity Caveats | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View |
Tagsno overlap | EstimationBacklogRelative sizing | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | EstimationEffortAgile | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication |