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| Criterion |  Architecture Architecture Communication Canvas |  Architecture C4 Model |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |
|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | The Architecture Communication Canvas plans architecture communication so the right people receive the right message. The method turns technical complexity into deliberate communication design. | 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. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | High |
Timedifferent | 60-120 min | 1-4 h | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 1-5 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting |
Formatsame | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Communication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication Plan | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | 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 |
Tags1 shared | ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality |
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