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| Criterion |  Architecture C4 Model |  Architecture arc42 |  Delivery Communication Plan |  Architecture Views and Beyond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | 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. | When many people need to be informed in parallel and messages would otherwise arrive unevenly or too late, a Communication Plan orders communication reliably. Channels, audiences, and cadences interlock so important information doesn't get lost. | Views and Beyond organizes architecture into several views so no single diagram has to do everything at once. This makes it possible to choose the representation that fits the stakeholder's question. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 1-2 Tage | 45-90 min | 1-3 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 1-5 | 1-4 | 2-6 | 1-4 |
Formatsame | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Communication Plan, Channel Matrix, Message Cadence | Architecture Views, Cross-view Notes, Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | CommunicationStakeholdersDeliveryPlanning | DocumentationStakeholdersArchitecture |