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| Criterion |  Architecture C4 Model |  Decision Making Constraint Analysis |  Architecture Software Architecture Canvas |  Architecture arc42 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 an initiative stalls, the limit often lies not in the idea but in hard or soft boundary conditions. Constraint Analysis separates these limits and shows which of them can actually be shaped. | The Software Architecture Canvas reduces a system to the most important architecture decisions, constraints, and interfaces. It is useful when teams need a resilient overall picture quickly. | 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. |
Complexitysame | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 30-90 min | 1-2 h | 1-2 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 1-5 | 2-8 | 3-10 | 1-4 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Constraint List, Hard/Soft Classification, Option Impact Notes, Decision Boundaries | Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality Attributes | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | ConstraintsDecisionPlanningOptions | CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication |