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| Criterion |  Architecture C4 Model |  Product Discovery Context Canvas |  Architecture Software Architecture Canvas |
|---|---|---|---|
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 environment of users, systems, and constraints is hard to grasp, it puts the context compactly on the table. It creates a clear reading of influence, boundary, and dependency. | 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. |
Complexitysame | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 45-90 min | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1-5 | 3-10 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Context canvas, Open questions, Shared context notes | Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality Attributes |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | ContextFramingRequirementsCanvas | CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop |
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