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| Criterion |  Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas |  Architecture C4 Model |  Product Discovery Context Canvas |  Architecture arc42 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | The Architecture Inception Canvas bundles the first architecture questions into a compact decision picture. It fits when an initiative is still in motion but still needs clear guardrails. | 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. | When an environment of users, systems, and constraints is hard to grasp, it puts the context compactly on the table. It creates a clear reading of influence, boundary, and dependency. | 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. |
Complexitysame | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | 1-4 h | 45-90 min | 1-2 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 1-5 | 3-10 | 1-4 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Context canvas, Open questions, Shared context notes | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View |
Tagsno overlap | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | ContextFramingRequirementsCanvas | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication |