Software Architecture and Architectural Design Quiz

Questions and Answers

Which UML diagram is used to depict the logical view of a software system?

Class diagram

Which aspect of the system is the process view concerned with?

System's runtime behavior and dynamic elements

What is another name for the development view of a software system?

Implementation view

Which UML diagram is used to describe the development view of a software system?

Package diagram Signup and view all the answers

From whose perspective does the physical view of a software system portray the system?

System engineer Signup and view all the answers

Which UML diagram is used to depict the process view of a software system?

Sequence diagram Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of software architecture?

To define the overall structure and behavior of a software system Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of having a well-defined software architecture?

Eliminating the need for future changes or maintenance Signup and view all the answers

How does software architecture influence an organization?

It influences the structure of the organization, and vice versa Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of software architecture in managing cost and schedule?

It provides a basis for estimating and tracking project costs and timelines Signup and view all the answers

How does software architecture support product line development?

It can be created as a reusable model for a family of related products Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a key responsibility of software architecture?

Specifying detailed data structures and algorithms Signup and view all the answers

According to the definition, what does the software architecture of a system comprise?

Software elements, relations among them, and properties of both Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of architectural design for software systems?

To transform architectural drivers into structures that guide the project Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a task guided by the software architecture?

Detailed design and coding Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the architect in relation to architectural requirements?

To identify requirements that have particular importance for the software architecture Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of the structures created during architectural design?

To guide the analysis, construction, and other project activities Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of architectural design in relation to new project members?

It provides a framework for training and onboarding new members Signup and view all the answers

What is the key principle of interactions between components in a layered architecture?

Components should interact within the same layer Signup and view all the answers

Which architecture is more suitable for a system that anticipates regular changes or replacements in its components?

Microservices architecture Signup and view all the answers

What is recommended when dealing with structured data that may be updated by different system features?

Implementing a shared database with locking and transaction management Signup and view all the answers

What adds overhead to a system when data is distributed across services?

Keeping data consistent Signup and view all the answers

If a system is planned to run on the cloud with Internet access, what architecture is usually best?

Service-oriented architecture Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario benefits most from isolating system components as separate services?

A system with unpredictable component changes Signup and view all the answers

What is the main reason why documentation is often avoided and derided by programmers?

Programmers find documentation to be a tedious and time-consuming task Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of conducting an architectural evaluation?

To ensure that the decisions made in the design are appropriate to address the critical requirements Signup and view all the answers

The text suggests that a formal architectural evaluation is advisable for which type of projects?

Projects that are nontrivial or truly important Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between documentation and testing in software development?

Testing and documentation are both essential steps in software development, just as they are in other engineering disciplines Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of a 'blueprint' or documented design in other engineering disciplines?

To serve as an essential step in moving toward implementation and the commitment of resources Signup and view all the answers

What are quality attributes, according to the text?

Measurable or testable properties of a system that indicate how well the system satisfies the needs of its stakeholders Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Software Architecture Definition and Importance

Software architecture is the set of structures needed to reason about the system, comprising software elements, relations among them, and properties of both.
Architectural design involves making decisions to transform design purpose, requirements, constraints, and architectural concerns into structures.
These structures guide the project, including analysis, construction, cost and schedule estimation, team formation, risk analysis, and implementation.

Issues in Architectural Design

Architectural requirements, including how components are distributed and communicate with each other, and what technologies to use.
Key issues to consider: scalability, performance, and change frequency.

Importance of Software Architecture

Enables reasoning about and managing change as the system evolves.
Allows early prediction of a system’s qualities.
Enhances communication among stakeholders.
Carries the earliest and most fundamental design decisions.
Defines constraints on subsequent implementation.
Influences the structure of an organization.
Can provide the basis for evolutionary prototyping.
Key artifact for reasoning about cost and schedule.
Can be created as a transferable, reusable model.

Software Architecture Views/Perspectives

Logical View: concerned with system functionality, depicted using class diagrams and state diagrams.
Process View: focuses on system runtime behavior, dealing with dynamic elements, and addressed using sequence diagrams, communication diagrams, and activity diagrams.
Development View: concerned with software administration, depicted using UML Component diagrams and Package diagrams.
Physical View: portrays the system from the perspective of a system engineer, documented using blueprints.

Architectural Evaluation

Evaluating the design to ensure it addresses critical requirements.
Informal and internal evaluation, or formal evaluation by an external team.

Quality Attributes

Measurable or testable properties of a system to satisfy stakeholders’ needs.
Architectural model: a high-level model without implementation information.

Design Guidelines and Layered Architectures

Components at level X should only interact with APIs of components in level X-1.
Issues in architectural choice, including data type and updates, change frequency, and system execution platform.

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Description

Test your knowledge on software architecture and architectural design principles based on the definition provided from 'Software Architecture in Practice (third edition)'. Explore the similarities between architectural design for software systems and design in general.