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 |  Engineering Golden Path |  Operations Getting Things Done |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | When teams need a reliable default path for frequent use, sprawl quickly emerges without any guiding logic. Golden Path bundles the preferred path so good practice becomes easy and deviation becomes deliberate. | With many open commitments and ideas in daily life, a reliable external storage system emerges. The method relieves the mind so priority and context don't have to compete in memory. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-2 Tage | 1-3 Tage Setup, laufend | 1-2 h Setup, laufend | 15-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-4 | 2-8 | 1 | 1-3 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Async | Async |
Outputdifferent | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Golden Path Guide, Templates, Quality Checks | Action Lists, Project List, Review Routine | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | EngineeringProductivityGovernance | ProductivityPlanningTasksExecution | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance |