View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion | ![]() Architecture Software Architecture Canvas | ![]() Architecture Architecture Decision Record | ![]() Agile ROAM Board | ![]() Architecture arc42 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 work needs to move between different states or columns, it makes that movement and its handoffs legible. It sorts work by value, risk, and delivery ability. The result is captured as a ROAM Board and an Owner List. | 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. |
Complexitysame | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | 15-45 min | 20-40 min initial, dann laufend | 1-2 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 1-3 | 3-15 | 1-4 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality Attributes | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | ROAM Board, Owner List | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View |
Tagsno overlap | CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | RiskAgileTrackingAlignment | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication |



