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| Criterion |  Knowledge Modeling PARA Method |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Architecture arc42 |  Architecture C4 Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | The PARA Method organizes knowledge into Projects, Areas, Resources, and Archives. It creates order when digital notes, files, and tasks no longer cleanly fit current work. | SAAM helps teams judge an architecture’s suitability for selected tasks and changes. It is particularly useful for examining modifiability and comparing architecture alternatives with clear reasoning. | 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 | High | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h Setup, laufend | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 1-2 Tage | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 1-4 | 1-5 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | PARA Structure, Project Notes, Knowledge Archive | Domain functions mapped to components and connections, Quality attributes and evaluation criteria, Typical tasks and their effects on the architecture, Reasoned evaluation or comparison of alternatives | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram |
Tagsno overlap | KnowledgeProductivityOrganization | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization |