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| Criterion | ![]() Architecture arc42 | ![]() Architecture Architecture Decision Record | ![]() Decision Making Delphi Method | ![]() Architecture Request for Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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. | An ADR permanently records an architecture decision with context, trade-offs, and consequence. It creates continuity for later changes because the decision path stays traceable. | When knowledge is distributed and direct dominance should be avoided, groups quickly fall under the sway of their opinion leaders. The Delphi Method gathers assessments iteratively and gradually brings expert judgments closer together. | An RFC clarifies architecture context, options, and consequences. It structures technical context, alternatives, tradeoffs, open questions, and review feedback, and captures the result as an RFC document, reviewer comments, and a decision rationale. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-2 Tage | 15-45 min | 1-4 Wochen | 1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung |
Participantsdifferent | 1-4 | 1-3 | 6-30 Experten | 3-20 Reviewer |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Async | Async | Async |
Outputdifferent | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Expert Forecast, Consensus Range, Assumption Notes | RFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or tickets |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | ForecastingExpertsDecisionStrategy | ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance |



