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| Criterion |  Engineering Golden Path |  UX Research Tree Testing |  Architecture arc42 |  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. | When a navigation exists but search paths still fail, tree testing checks findability without visual distraction. The method shows whether labels, levels, and paths really lead to the intended destination. | 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. | 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 | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 Tage Setup, laufend | 1-2 Tage | 1-2 Tage | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | Based on research question | 1-4 | 1-5 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Golden Path Guide, Templates, Quality Checks | Findability Metrics, Path Analysis, Revised IA | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram |
Tagsno overlap | EngineeringProductivityGovernance | Information architectureNavigationFindability | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization |