Architectural Design Principles
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Questions and Answers

What is architectural design concerned with in software development?

Architectural design is concerned with understanding how a software system should be organized and designing the overall structure of that system.

Refactoring the system architecture is generally considered a cheap and quick process.

False

What is the primary output of the architectural design process?

The output of the architectural design process is an architectural model.

What does the architectural model describe about the system?

<p>The architectural model describes how the system is organized as a set of communicating components.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Agile processes typically avoid architectural design altogether.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is 'architecture in the small' focused on?

<p>Architecture in the small is concerned with the architecture of individual programs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the benefits of using explicit architecture in software development? (Select all that apply)

<p>Improved stakeholder communication</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of diagrams are most often used to document software architectures?

<p>Simple, informal block diagrams showing entities and relationships are the most frequently used method for documenting software architectures.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Box and line diagrams are highly detailed and provide a comprehensive understanding of component interactions.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary advantage of using box and line diagrams?

<p>Box and line diagrams are useful for communication with stakeholders and project planning.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the key uses of architectural models in software development? (Select all that apply)

<p>Documenting a designed architecture</p> Signup and view all the answers

Architectural design is a strictly defined process with rigid steps.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

What common architectural design decisions impact the system's non-functional characteristics?

<p>Architectural design decisions affect the non-functional characteristics of the system.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Systems in the same domain rarely share similar architectural concepts.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of application product lines in software development?

<p>Application product lines are built around a core architecture with variants that satisfy particular customer requirements.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Architectural patterns are only useful for creating unique and never-before-seen software systems.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do architectural patterns help address system performance concerns?

<p>Architectural patterns can help address system performance concerns by localizing critical operations and minimizing communications, emphasizing the use of larger components over fine-grained ones.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do architectural patterns support system security?

<p>Architectural patterns can support system security by employing a layered architecture.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do architectural patterns facilitate system maintainability?

<p>Architectural patterns can aid in system maintainability by utilizing fine-grained, replaceable components.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of architectural views in software development?

<p>Architectural views provide different perspectives or angles to understand and document a system's architecture.</p> Signup and view all the answers

A single architectural model can comprehensively capture all aspects of a system.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the '4+1 view model of software architecture' comprised of? (Select all that apply)

<p>Use case view</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Unified Modeling Language (UML) is generally recognized as the most appropriate notation for high-level system description.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of architectural patterns in software development?

<p>Architectural patterns are a means of representing, sharing and reusing knowledge.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an architectural pattern?

<p>An architectural pattern is a stylized description of a good design practice that has been tried and tested in different environments.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Architectural patterns should only focus on the positive aspects of a specific design approach.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

Architectural patterns can be represented using only textual descriptions.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of the Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern in software development?

<p>The Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern separates presentation and interaction from the system data.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the three main components of the MVC pattern?

<p>The three main components of the MVC pattern are the Model, View, and Controller.</p> Signup and view all the answers

When is the MVC pattern typically used in software development?

<p>The MVC pattern is used when there are multiple ways to view and interact with data and when future requirements for interaction and presentation of data are unknown.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one disadvantage of using the MVC pattern?

<p>The MVC pattern can involve additional code and code complexity when the data model and interactions are simple.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of the Layered architecture pattern?

<p>The Layered architecture pattern organizes the system into layers with related functionality associated with each layer.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key advantage of using the Layered architecture pattern?

<p>The Layered architecture pattern allows for incremental development of sub-systems in different layers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential disadvantage of the Layered architecture pattern?

<p>Providing a clean separation between layers can be difficult in practice.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of the Repository architecture pattern?

<p>The Repository architecture pattern manages all data in a system in a central repository.</p> Signup and view all the answers

When is the Repository architecture pattern typically used?

<p>The Repository architecture pattern is used when large volumes of data are generated in a system.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential drawback of the Repository architecture pattern?

<p>The Repository architecture pattern can create a single point of failure for the system.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the fundamental principle behind the Client-server architecture pattern?

<p>The Client-server architecture pattern distributes functionality across a network of clients and servers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the key components of the Client-server architecture pattern?

<p>The key components of the Client-server architecture pattern are clients, servers, and a network.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant advantage of using the Client-server architecture pattern?

<p>The Client-server architecture pattern allows for the distribution of servers across a network.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a major disadvantage associated with the Client-server architecture pattern?

<p>The Client-server architecture pattern is susceptible to denial of service attacks or server failure.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the fundamental concept behind the Pipe and filter architecture pattern?

<p>The Pipe and filter architecture pattern organizes the system into a chain of processing components, where data flows sequentially between them.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of systems is the Pipe and filter architecture pattern particularly suitable for?

<p>The Pipe and filter architecture pattern is suitable for data processing applications, both batch- and transaction-based.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key advantage of the Pipe and filter architecture pattern?

<p>The Pipe and filter architecture pattern allows for the reuse of individual processing components, reducing redundancy and promoting modular development.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential drawback of the Pipe and filter architecture pattern?

<p>A common challenge with the Pipe and filter architecture pattern involves agreeing on a consistent format for data transfer between components.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the overarching purpose of application architectures in software development?

<p>Application architectures serve as a framework for designing systems that meet specific organizational needs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How can application architectures be beneficial in software development? (Select all that apply)

<p>Assessing components for reuse</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are common types of application systems? (Select all that apply)

<p>Event processing systems</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes data processing applications?

<p>Data processing applications process data in batches without explicit user intervention during the processing.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of transaction processing applications?

<p>Transaction processing applications process user requests and update information in a system database.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the defining characteristic of event processing systems?

<p>Event processing systems react to events happening in their environment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes language processing systems?

<p>Language processing systems interpret instructions specified in formal languages.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of a transaction manager in transaction processing systems?

<p>A transaction manager handles asynchronous requests for service, processing them in a consistent and reliable manner.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of architecture is typically used for information systems?

<p>Information systems often use a layered architecture.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Web-based information systems are becoming less common, with traditional desktop applications gaining popularity.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key advantage of using web-based information systems?

<p>Web-based information systems offer a user interface accessible through a standard web browser.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Web-based information systems do not typically utilize multi-tier client server architectures.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of a translator in a language processing system?

<p>A translator converts source language instructions into an abstract machine-readable format.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of an interpreter in a language processing system?

<p>An interpreter executes the translated instructions, fetching data and producing results.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of software architecture in software development?

<p>Software architecture provides a blueprint for how a software system is organized.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the key elements considered in architectural design decisions?

<p>Architectural design decisions include considerations regarding the type of application, system distribution, and architectural styles to be used.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Architectural patterns are primarily intended for creating completely novel and unique architectural designs instead of reusing existing solutions.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why are models of application architectures valuable in software development?

<p>Models of application architectures help us understand and compare applications, validate application system designs, and assess large-scale components for reuse.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are some of the key characteristics of transaction processing systems?

<p>Transaction processing systems are interactive systems that allow information in a database to be remotely accessed and modified by a number of users.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of language processing systems?

<p>Language processing systems translate text from one language into another and carry out instructions specified in the input language.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Architectural Design

  • Architectural design focuses on understanding and organizing software systems. It outlines the overall structure, linking design and requirements engineering.
  • The architectural model details how the system is structured as communicating parts.

Topics Covered

  • Architectural design decisions
  • Architectural views
  • Architectural patterns
  • Application architectures

Agility and Architecture

  • Agile processes often involve designing a system's architecture early on.
  • Refactoring system architecture is typically costly due to its impact on numerous components.

Architectural Abstraction

  • Architecture in the small focuses on individual program structures.
  • Architecture in the large concerns itself with complex enterprise systems, often distributed across multiple computers and managed by different parties

Advantages of Explicit Architecture

  • Stakeholder communication: Architecture acts as a discussion point for stakeholders.
  • System analysis: Facilitates analysis of whether the system fulfills non-functional requirements.
  • Large-scale reuse: Architecture can be reusable across various systems. Enables product line architectures.

Architectural Representations

  • Simple block diagrams are common tools but lack semantic details about relationships and properties.
  • Architectural models' semantics depend entirely on their use.

Box and Line Diagrams

  • Very abstract, omitting detailed component relationships and properties.
  • Useful for communication with stakeholders and project planning.

Use of Architectural Models

  • High-level architectural views aid in communicating with stakeholders.
  • They allow abstracted, uncluttered discussion of a system.
  • Models document the architecture. The goal is a complete, detailed description of components, interfaces, and connections.

Architectural Design Decisions

  • Designing architecture is a creative process, varying based on the system.
  • Many common decisions span across all design processes impacting non-functional characteristics.
  • Various decisions regarding the system's design are explored (is there a generic application architecture? how is it distributed?).

Architecture Reuse

  • Systems in the same domain often have similar architectures.
  • Application product lines are built around a core architecture with variants to satisfy specific customer needs.
  • System architectures may borrow from architectural patterns to define their style.

Architecture and System Characteristics

  • Performance: Localize critical functions, reduce communication. Use large components rather than fine-grained.
  • Security: Use layered architecture with critical data in inner layers.
  • Safety: Localize safety-critical components in a few sub-systems.
  • Availability: Add redundancy and fault tolerance.
  • Maintainability: Encourage fine-grained and replaceable components.

Architectural Views

  • Different views/perspectives help during design and documentation of a system architecture. Views describe how the system is broken down and how components interact.
  • Useful notations for describing architectural models should be addressed.

4 + 1 View Model of Software Architecture

  • Logical View: Shows key abstractions (e.g., objects).
  • Process View: Illustrates how interacting processes constitute a system.
  • Development View: Demonstrates how software is broken down for development.
  • Physical View: Shows hardware distribution of components.
  • Models are related through use cases/scenarios.

Representing Architectural Views

  • UML is not suitable for high-level system documentation, according to some.
  • Specialized architectural description languages (ADLs) exist but aren't widely used.

Architectural Patterns

  • Patterns are means of representing, sharing, and reusing knowledge within design.
  • Architectural patterns are standardized descriptions of design practices proven to work in different environments.
  • Patterns should define when they're useful and when they aren't.
  • Patterns may exist in graphical or tabular forms.

The Model-View-Controller (MVC) Pattern

  • Separates presentation (View) and interaction from data (Model).
  • A system is divided into logical components: Model managing data, view displaying data, and controller handling input.
  • Figure 6.4 shows a web-based application organized via this pattern.
  • Useful when dealing with various display options for the same information or when changes to one view need to be mirrored throughout other views.

The Organization of the MVC Pattern

  • (Diagram of the Controller, View, and Model interactions - details the connections that allow the system to work together).

Web Application Architecture using the MVC Pattern

  • Diagram of Controller, View, and Model along with additional layers (e.g. browser, forms, model, database).

Layered Architecture

  • Used to model interactions among sub-systems, structuring into organized levels.
  • Each layer provides services to the next highest layer.
  • Supports incremental sub-system development. Changing one layer often only affects adjacent layers. However, it's a somewhat artificial process sometimes.

The Layered Architecture Pattern

  • The system is organized into layers, where each correlates to related functionality.
  • Lower-level layers handle core, reusable services, with higher layers building on these.
  • Useful for building new systems on top of existing bases or when teams are responsible for distinct layers of the system.

A Generic Layered Architecture

  • Abstract example of a generic layer system, illustrating the logical structure. (Diagram indicating various layers of a generic layered system)

The Architecture of the iLearn System

  • A specific example of a layered architecture. This diagram illustrates how the system is broken up into layers, providing services, and interacting with various parts of the infrastructure and end-user.

Repository Architecture

  • Sub-systems often exchange data.
  • Databases or repositories can hold shared data accessible to all subsets, or sub-systems can maintain their own to explicitly share data.
  • Repository architectures are powerful for sharing enormous amounts of data across sub-systems.

The Repository Pattern

  • System data is managed centrally in a repository. Components only interact via the central repository.
  • This can be useful in various situations, e.g., an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) where multiple tools may need to access the results of other tools.
  • Repository systems are susceptible to single points of failure should the central repository fail. Access bottlenecks and distribution issues may arise with large systems.

A Repository Architecture for an IDE

  • A detailed diagram of multiple tools accessing a central repository.

Client-Server Architecture

  • Distributed systems architecture, presenting a distributed model for data and processes among components.
  • Components can be deployed on the same or different hardware.
  • Clients request services from servers which provide them.
  • A network facilitates client-server interaction.

The Client-Server Pattern

  • Systems are divided into client requests and a separate server which provides service.
  • Servers often are replicated to accommodate large-scale use. Suitable for situations where there are various locations or levels of usage variability.
  • Client-server systems are susceptible to single points of failure, and performance depends on the network.

A Client-Server Architecture for a Film Library

  • Detailed diagram: A visual representation of client-server components.

Pipe and Filter Architecture

  • Processing involves chained, sequential transformation of data.
  • These are batch-oriented models, common in data processing environments, but aren't ideal for interactive systems.

The Pipe and Filter Pattern

  • Data flows through a sequence of discrete processing components, each performing a distinct transformation step.
  • Components are often reusable, easily adding or changing transformations as needed.
  • Data format compatibility must be standardized among components, which may create limitations in reusability.

An Example of the Pipe and Filter Architecture (Payments System)

  • Diagram of data flowing from one process to another (each process performs a step in data manipulation)

Application Architectures

  • Application systems satisfy organizational needs.
  • Many businesses share similar needs; this leads to common architectural templates.
  • Generic application architectures are flexible and can be adapted to satisfy specific requirements.

Use of Application Architectures

  • Start point for architectural design
  • Design checklist
  • Assist organizational structure for the development team
  • Evaluate components for reuse
  • Vocabulary for communication (application type discussions)

Examples of Application Types

  • Data processing: Automatic processing of structured data, typically without manual user input needed.
  • Transaction processing: Processing user information, usually updating information in databases.
  • Event processing: Systems reacting to events external to their systems.
  • Language processing: Interpreters or compilers understanding/translating formal language instructions

Application Type Examples

  • Transaction processing systems: E-commerce, reservation systems.
  • Language processing systems: Compilers, command interpreters.

Transaction Processing Systems

  • Handling user requests/updates to databases.
  • Transactions treated as sequences of related operations.
  • Users send requests asynchronously, and a transaction manager coordinates.

The Structure of Transaction Processing Applications

  • (Diagram illustrating the process flow in a transactional system, showing Input, Processing, output).

The Software Architecture of an ATM

  • (Diagram presenting the logical process flow in an ATM)

Information Systems Architecture

  • Transaction-driven systems.
  • Architecture generally based on layers managing distinct processes
  • Layers (in the general example) include user interfaces, communication paths, database access, and information retrieval (to handle user requests).

Layered Information System Architecture

  • (Detailed example diagram of a layered-information system structure)

The Architecture of the Mentcare System

  • Example of an application architecture, illustrating a specific application's structural components. (Diagram)

Web-Based Information Systems

  • User interfaces for these systems are often based on web browsers.
  • Web-based implementations often include features for transaction processing such as 'shopping carts' for e-commerce.

Server Implementation

  • Server implementations are often multi-tiered, as discussed in chapter 17, but this description outlines the main roles.
  • Web servers handle user interface communications via web browsers.
  • Application servers implement application-specific logic and data access.
  • Database servers handle data storage/retrieval and are central for transaction management.

The Architecture of a Language Processing System

  • (Diagram of a language processing system architecture with input, processing steps, and output)

Key Points

  • Software architecture describes organizational structure in software.
  • Architectural design involves decisions on application type and the implementation's structure (central or distributed).
  • Documents for architecture can exist from numerous perspectives (e.g., conceptual, logical, process, development). Specialized documentation may use patterns for generic system documentation. Patterns can be used to describe the architecture, explain scenarios where they are useful, and examine strengths and shortcomings of each approach.

Key Points (continued)

  • Application system models help in validation and comparison.
  • Transaction processing systems allow multiple users to access/manipulate data, usually accessed through interactive interfaces.
  • Language processing systems translate/interpret instructions from one formal language to another.

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Chapter 6 - Architectural Design PDF

Description

This quiz explores the key concepts of architectural design in software systems. It covers architectural decisions, views, patterns, and the impact of agility on architecture. Test your understanding of how architecture serves as a communication tool for stakeholders and its importance in both small and large systems.

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