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| Criterion |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Architecture Request for Comments |  Architecture arc42 |  Architecture C4 Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | An RFC clarifies architecture context, options, and consequences. It structures technical context, alternatives, tradeoffs, open questions, and review feedback, and captures the result as an RFC document, reviewer comments, and a decision rationale. | 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 | High | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung | 1-2 Tage | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 3-20 Reviewer | 1-4 | 1-5 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop + 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 | RFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or tickets | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram |
Tags1 shared | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization |