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Selected:arc42Software Architecture CanvasSAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)Architecture Decision Record
| Criterion |  Architecture arc42 |  Architecture Software Architecture Canvas |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  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. | The Software Architecture Canvas reduces a system to the most important architecture decisions, constraints, and interfaces. It is useful when teams need a resilient overall picture quickly. | SAAM helps teams judge an architecture’s suitability for selected tasks and changes. It is particularly useful for examining modifiability and comparing architecture alternatives with clear reasoning. | 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 | Low | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-2 Tage | 1-2 h | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 15-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-4 | 3-10 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 1-3 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Async |
Outputdifferent | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality Attributes | Domain functions mapped to components and connections, Quality attributes and evaluation criteria, Typical tasks and their effects on the architecture, Reasoned evaluation or comparison of alternatives | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale |
Tags1 shared | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance |