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| Criterion |  Architecture C4 Model |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Product Discovery Hypothesis Prioritization Canvas |  Product Discovery Test Card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | 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 many hypotheses compete for attention, it brings order to their learning sequence and importance. It separates problem, assumption, solution, and evidence. The result is captured as a prioritization canvas and a hypothesis backlog. | The Test Card turns a critical assumption into a testable claim and specifies in advance which result counts as success. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 15-45 min | 60-90 min | 20-35 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-5 | 1-3 | 3-8 | 1-5 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Prioritization Canvas, Hypothesis Backlog | Test Card with a pre-set threshold |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | ExperimentsPrioritizationDiscoveryHypothesis | ExperimentsValidationDiscoveryHypothesis |