View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion |  Architecture arc42 |  Systems Thinking CATWOE Analysis |  Systems Thinking Rich Picture |  Architecture Views and Beyond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | CATWOE structures a problem from six viewpoints and prevents too narrow a view of the situation. Different experiences of the system become comparably discussable this way. | A Rich Picture brings an unclear situation onto a shared drawing. It captures actors, tensions, information flows, and blind spots before the team jumps to solutions too early. | Views and Beyond organizes architecture into several views so no single diagram has to do everything at once. This makes it possible to choose the representation that fits the stakeholder's question. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-2 Tage | 45-90 min | 30-90 min | 1-3 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 1-4 | 3-8 | 2-10 | 1-4 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | CATWOE Canvas, Root Definition, Stakeholder Perspectives, Constraints | Rich Picture, Problem Framing Notes | Architecture Views, Cross-view Notes, Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | Systems thinkingFramingStakeholders | Systems thinkingSoft systemsFramingVisualization | DocumentationStakeholdersArchitecture |