arc42 Architecture Documentation
5/31/25About 2 min
arc42 Architecture Documentation
This section contains the detailed architecture documentation for BookWorm following the arc42 template structure.
About arc42
arc42 is a template for documentation and communication of software and system architectures. It provides a consistent structure for documenting architectures that is:
- Pragmatic - focuses on content, not form
- Flexible - adaptable to your specific needs
- Clear - well-structured and easy to navigate
- Comprehensive - covers all important aspects
Documentation Sections
The architecture documentation is organized into 12 main sections:
- Introduction and Goals - Why does this system exist?
- Constraints - What are the fixed constraints?
- Context and Scope - What are the system boundaries?
- Solution Strategy - How do we achieve our goals?
- Building Block View - How is the system structured?
- Runtime View - How does the system behave at runtime?
- Deployment View - How is the system deployed?
- Cross-cutting Concepts - What are the overarching concepts?
- Architecture Decisions - What are the key decisions? (Individual ADRs)
- Quality Requirements - What quality attributes matter?
- Risks and Technical Debt - What are the known issues?
- Glossary - What do the terms mean?
Each section provides detailed information about different aspects of the BookWorm architecture, from high-level goals to specific implementation details.
Architecture Decision Records (ADRs)
Section 9 uses a multi-page ADR approach for better organization and maintainability:
- Main ADR Index - Overview, timeline, and decision impact analysis
- Individual ADR Directory - Detailed individual Architecture Decision Records
- ADR-001: Microservices Architecture
- ADR-002: Event-Driven Architecture with CQRS
- ADR-003: .NET Aspire for Cloud-Native Development
- ADR-004: PostgreSQL as Primary Database
- ADR-005: Keycloak for Identity Management
- ADR-006: SignalR for Real-time Communication
- ADR-007: Container-First Deployment Strategy
- ADR-008: API Gateway Pattern Implementation
- ADR-009: AI Integration Strategy
This structure allows for:
- Better Navigation: Each decision is in its own file for easy reference
- Version Control: Individual ADR changes can be tracked separately
- Maintainability: Easier to update and review specific decisions
- Cross-Referencing: Clear links between related decisions
Navigation Tips
- Start with the main ADR index for an overview of all decisions
- Use the decision timeline to understand the evolution of the architecture
- Check the decision impact matrix to understand quality attribute implications
- Follow the dependency diagram to understand how decisions relate to each other