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Criterion
A paper-based illustration representing arc42 with its core stages and visible working result.
Architecture
arc42
Design sheets and interface cards connect to jointly written pseudocode with highlighted unresolved questions.
Architecture
ARID (Active Reviews for Intermediate Designs)
Paper illustration of Request for Comments (RFC) with its method-specific working model.
Architecture
Request for Comments
Paper illustration for DACI
Decision Making
DACI
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.ARID examines how well developers can work with a technical design. It focuses on a part of the system that can still be revised, between the architecture overview and the detailed specification.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.In cross-functional decisions, responsibilities quickly blur between approval, influence, and execution. DACI arranges these roles so decision pressure, contribution, and information stay cleanly separated.
Complexitydifferent
LowMediumMediumLow
Timedifferent
1-2 Tage2–4 h review as a planning range; preparation and evaluation additional1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung30-60 min
Participantsdifferent
1-4Designers, developers as users, and facilitation3-20 Reviewer2-10
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncAsyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment ViewPrioritized development tasks, Jointly produced code or pseudocode, Observed difficulties and open design questions, Proposed design revisionsRFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or ticketsDACI Matrix, Decision Owner, Decision Log
Tagsno overlap
ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication
ArchitectureEngineeringFeedbackValidationTasks
ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance
DecisionRolesGovernanceAlignment
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