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| Criterion |  Architecture C4 Model |  Agile Bucket System |  Architecture arc42 |  Agile Affinity Estimation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 a large batch of work needs a fast, rough estimate, it sorts items into predefined size buckets. It sorts work by value, risk, and delivery ability. The result is captured as a Bucketed Backlog, Relative Estimates, and Split Candidates. | 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 tasks need to be classified quickly, it sorts them by perceived effort and similarity. It reduces the effort of fine-grained estimation for large volumes. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 30-90 min | 1-2 Tage | 30-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-5 | 3-12 | 1-4 | 3-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Bucketed Backlog, Relative Estimates, Split Candidates | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Affinity Size Map, Grouped Estimates, Unclear Items |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | EstimationBacklogRelative sizing | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | EstimationBacklogRelative sizing |