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| Criterion | ![]() Knowledge Modeling IBIS | ![]() Architecture Views and Beyond | ![]() Architecture Software Architecture Canvas | ![]() Architecture Architecture Decision Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | IBIS structures thinking about complex questions as a sequence of issues, ideas, and arguments. The method keeps discussions open without forcing them into premature consensus. | 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 Software Architecture Canvas reduces a system to the most important architecture decisions, constraints, and interfaces. It is useful when teams need a resilient overall picture quickly. | 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 | Medium | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 1-3 Tage | 1-2 h | 15-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 1-4 | 3-10 | 1-3 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Async |
Outputdifferent | Issue Map, Positions, Argument Notes | Architecture Views, Cross-view Notes, Rationale | Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality Attributes | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | RationaleKnowledgeDecision | DocumentationStakeholdersArchitecture | CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance |



