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Selected:Software Architecture CanvasArchitecture Decision RecordBrainstormingArchitecture Inception Canvas
| Criterion | ![]() Architecture Software Architecture Canvas | ![]() Architecture Architecture Decision Record | ![]() Innovation Brainstorming | ![]() Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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. | When a team faces an open question with many obvious directions, the method first creates breadth instead of premature commitment. It separates idea flow from evaluation and makes lines of thought visible, creating a pool for selection and further development. | 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. |
Complexitysame | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | 15-45 min | 30-60 min | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 1-3 | 4-12 | 3-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality Attributes | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Idea pool, Theme clusters, Shortlist | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions |
Tagsno overlap | CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | BrainstormingIdeationCreativityWorkshopDivergence | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas |



