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:

1. Introduction and Goals - Why does this system exist?
2. Constraints - What are the fixed constraints?
3. Context and Scope - What are the system boundaries?
4. Solution Strategy - How do we achieve our goals?
5. Building Block View - How is the system structured?
6. Runtime View - How does the system behave at runtime?
7. Deployment View - How is the system deployed?
8. Cross-cutting Concepts - What are the overarching concepts?
9. Architecture Decisions - What are the key decisions? (Individual ADRs)
10. Quality Requirements - What quality attributes matter?
11. Risks and Technical Debt - What are the known issues?
12. 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