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| Criterion |  Architecture C4 Model |  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. | 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. |
Complexitysame | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 15-45 min | 1-5 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 1-5 | 1-3 | Nutzertraffic |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Async | Async |
Outputdifferent | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Interest Metrics, Conversion Signal, Learning Note |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | ValidationExperimentsDemandGrowth |
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