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| Criterion |  Engineering Golden Path |  Architecture arc42 |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Architecture C4 Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When teams need a reliable default path for frequent use, sprawl quickly emerges without any guiding logic. Golden Path bundles the preferred path so good practice becomes easy and deviation becomes deliberate. | 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 research notes, feedback, or observations sit unconnected side by side, affinity diagramming sorts the raw material into solid themes. Many individual points turn into patterns that make decisions and opportunities clearer. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 Tage Setup, laufend | 1-2 Tage | 45–90 min | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 1-4 | 3-10 | 1-5 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Golden Path Guide, Templates, Quality Checks | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram |
Tagsno overlap | EngineeringProductivityGovernance | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization |