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Selected:SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)Architecture Inception Canvasarc42Architecture Decision Record
| Criterion |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas |  Architecture arc42 |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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. | The Architecture Inception Canvas bundles the first architecture questions into a compact decision picture. It fits when an initiative is still in motion but still needs clear guardrails. | 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. | 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 | High | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 1-2 h | 1-2 Tage | 15-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 3-8 | 1-4 | 1-3 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Async |
Outputdifferent | 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 | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale |
Tags1 shared | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance |