View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion |  UX Research Diary Study |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas |  Architecture arc42 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When experiences build up over days or weeks and a single session cannot capture them, Diary Study records the course of everyday life. Recurring triggers, moods, and habits become visible this way, beyond the sharpness of memory. | 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. | The Architecture Inception Canvas bundles the first architecture questions into a compact decision picture. It fits when an initiative is still in motion but still needs clear guardrails. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-4 Wochen | 15-45 min | 1-2 h | 1-2 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 5-20 | 1-3 | 3-8 | 1-4 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Diary Entries, Longitudinal Patterns, Experience Timeline | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View |
Tagsno overlap | UX researchTrackingBehavior | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication |