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Criterion
A paper-based illustration representing arc42 with its core stages and visible working result.
Architecture
arc42
Paper illustration of Request for Comments (RFC) with its method-specific working model.
Architecture
Request for Comments
Paper illustration for Communication Plan
Delivery
Communication Plan
Views and Beyond method illustration showing its working structure
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.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.When many people need to be informed in parallel and messages would otherwise arrive unevenly or too late, a Communication Plan orders communication reliably. Channels, audiences, and cadences interlock so important information doesn't get lost.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
LowMediumLowMedium
Timedifferent
1-2 Tage1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung45-90 min1-3 Tage
Participantsdifferent
1-43-20 Reviewer2-61-4
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncAsyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment ViewRFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or ticketsCommunication Plan, Channel Matrix, Message CadenceArchitecture Views, Cross-view Notes, Rationale
Tagsno overlap
ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication
ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance
CommunicationStakeholdersDeliveryPlanning
DocumentationStakeholdersArchitecture
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