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Selected:Software Architecture CanvasRequest for CommentsAffinity DiagrammingArchitecture Inception Canvas
| Criterion |  Architecture Software Architecture Canvas |  Architecture Request for Comments |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  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 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. | When research notes, feedback, or observations sit unconnected side by side, affinity diagramming sorts the raw material into solid themes. Many individual points turn into patterns that make decisions and opportunities clearer. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | 1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung | 45–90 min | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 3-20 Reviewer | 3-10 | 3-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality Attributes | RFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or tickets | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions |
Tagsno overlap | CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop | ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas |