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| Criterion |  Architecture Views and Beyond |  Architecture arc42 |  Operations Runbook |  Architecture C4 Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | Views and Beyond organizes architecture into several views so no single diagram has to do everything at once. This makes it possible to choose the representation that fits the stakeholder's question. | 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. | For recurring operational tasks or incidents, the method keeps solid action logic ready. It reduces uncertainty when time pressure, role changes, or rare situations demand fast access. | 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 | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 Tage | 1-2 Tage | 20-60 min | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1-4 | 1-4 | 1-4 | 1-5 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Architecture Views, Cross-view Notes, Rationale | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Runbook, Checklist, Escalation Path | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram |
Tagsno overlap | DocumentationStakeholdersArchitecture | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | OperationsReliabilityDocumentation | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization |