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| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Future Reality Tree |  Architecture Views and Beyond |  Architecture C4 Model |  Architecture arc42 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | A Future Reality Tree shows how desired actions are meant to lead to a better system state. The method checks whether a path of change holds together logically before time flows into implementation. | 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. | 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. | 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 | High | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 2-4 h | 1-3 Tage | 1-4 h | 1-2 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 1-4 | 1-5 | 1-4 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Future Reality Tree, Negative Branches, Assumption List, Improved Injections | Architecture Views, Cross-view Notes, Rationale | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View |
Tagsno overlap | Theory of ConstraintsSystems thinkingChange | DocumentationStakeholdersArchitecture | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication |