View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion |  Architecture C4 Model |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Architecture Quality Attribute Workshop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 lot is assumed about a target group but little is seen jointly, empathy mapping makes knowledge and gaps directly comparable. The picture also shows which assumptions hold up and where evidence is missing. | An ADR permanently records an architecture decision with context, trade-offs, and consequence. It creates continuity for later changes because the decision path stays traceable. | A Quality Attribute Workshop translates quality requirements into concrete scenarios and architecture impulses. The method brings product, engineering, and operations to the same view of desired properties. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 30–60 min | 15-45 min | 2-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1-5 | 4-8 | 1-3 | 5-15 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Quality Scenarios, Priority List, Architecture Concerns |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | RequirementsArchitectureWorkshop |