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| Criterion | ![]() Architecture arc42 | ![]() Innovation TRIZ | ![]() Architecture Architecture Decision Record | ![]() Architecture C4 Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | For technical contradictions or trade-offs, the method looks for solutions that resolve opposing requirements at the same time. It translates limits into an explicit picture of conflict that becomes workable. This produces not just compromises but more elegant principles. | 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. | The C4 Model makes a system legible across several resolution levels, from context down to code. It suits situations where different audiences need to understand the same architecture from different altitudes. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | High | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-2 Tage | 1-4 h | 15-45 min | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1-4 | 2-8 | 1-3 | 1-5 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Contradiction Statement, Inventive Principles, Solution Concepts | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | InnovationProblem solvingContradictionsCreativity | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization |



