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| Criterion |  Architecture C4 Model |  UX Design Design Studio |  Architecture arc42 |  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. | When several designs need to be quickly put in relation to each other, it makes ideas visible and comparable. It encourages early variants instead of long upfront debates. | 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. | 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 | Medium | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 1-3 h | 1-2 Tage | 1-3 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 1-5 | 3-8 | 1-4 | 1-4 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Sketches, Concept Directions, Design Decisions | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Architecture Views, Cross-view Notes, Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | SketchingCollaborationIdeation | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | DocumentationStakeholdersArchitecture |