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Selected:arc42LASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews)Architecture Inception CanvasArchitecture Decision Record
| Criterion |  Architecture arc42 |  Architecture LASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews) |  Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas |  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. | LASR helps development teams identify where their software falls short of important quality goals and which improvements to consider. A small group with existing system knowledge can make an initial assessment and investigate open questions in more detail. | The Architecture Inception Canvas bundles the first architecture questions into a compact decision picture. It fits when an initiative is still in motion but still needs clear guardrails. | 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 | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-2 Tage | 3–4 h for initial assessment; preparation and deeper analysis additional | 1-2 h | 15-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-4 | 1 or a small team; particularly suitable for 3–4 people | 3-8 | 1-3 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Async |
Outputdifferent | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Lean Mission Statement describing the software’s purpose, Prioritized quality goals and evaluation criteria, Risks and estimated gaps against quality goals, More closely examined findings and open checks | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale |
Tags1 shared | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | ArchitectureQualityRiskAssessmentLean | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance |