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 |  Decision Making Trade-off Analysis |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Decision Making Decision Matrix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | With limited resources, quality, speed, cost, and risk almost always compete with each other. Trade-off Analysis makes these tensions explicit and prevents decisions from producing hidden side effects. | 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. | When several options collide with several criteria, comparison quickly becomes subjective. A Decision Matrix makes the trade-off visible and brings weighting, criteria, and options into a shared logic. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-2 Tage | 45-120 min | 15-45 min | 45-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-4 | 2-8 | 1-3 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Trade-off Matrix, Criteria List, Decision Rationale, Accepted Downsides | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Decision Matrix, Scoring Rationale, Selected Option |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | TradeoffsDecisionCriteriaOptions | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | DecisionCriteriaScoringTradeoffs |