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| Criterion |  Architecture Views and Beyond |  Architecture C4 Model |  Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas |  Architecture arc42 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 Tage | 1-4 h | 1-2 h | 1-2 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 1-4 | 1-5 | 3-8 | 1-4 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Architecture Views, Cross-view Notes, Rationale | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View |
Tags1 shared | DocumentationStakeholdersArchitecture | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication |