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| Criterion |  Architecture C4 Model |  Growth A/B Testing |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Product Discovery Smoke Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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 two variants compete, discussions quickly decide by taste rather than effect. A/B Testing checks behavior under controlled conditions and separates real improvement from chance or expectation 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 demand only needs to be roughly verified, it tests interest with minimal effort. It measures whether people would take a next step at all. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | High | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 1-4 Wochen | 15-45 min | 1-5 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 1-5 | 1-6 | 1-3 | Nutzertraffic |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Async | Async | Async |
Outputdifferent | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Experiment results, Decision log, Learning summary | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Interest Metrics, Conversion Signal, Learning Note |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | ExperimentsGrowthAnalyticsValidation | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | ValidationExperimentsDemandGrowth |