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| Criterion | ![]() Product Discovery Context Canvas | ![]() Architecture arc42 | ![]() Agile Specification by Example | ![]() Architecture Architecture Decision Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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. | 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 business rules need to become precise, it ties language, example, and test together. It sorts work by value, risk, and delivery ability. The result is captured as an Example Table and Acceptance Tests. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 45-90 min | 1-2 Tage | 60-90 min pro Feature | 15-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 1-4 | 3-6 | 1-3 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Async |
Outputdifferent | Context canvas, Open questions, Shared context notes | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Example Table, Acceptance Tests | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | ContextFramingRequirementsCanvas | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | AgileRequirementsExamplesBehavior-Driven Development | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance |



