Architecture Planning
Learn how to design robust, scalable system architectures using AI assistance and proven patterns. This module covers everything from high-level system design to detailed component specifications.
Learning Objectives
After completing this module, you will be able to:
✅ Design System Architecture - Create comprehensive architectural blueprints
✅ Make Technology Decisions - Choose appropriate technologies with clear rationale
✅ Plan for Scalability - Design systems that can grow with business needs
✅ Document Architecture - Create clear, maintainable architectural documentation
✅ Use AI for Design - Leverage AI tools to accelerate architecture planning
Architecture Planning Process
Step 1: Requirements Analysis
Transform business requirements into technical constraints
Requirements to Architecture Mapping:
| Requirement Type | Architecture Impact | Design Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| High User Volume | Load balancing, caching, horizontal scaling | CDN, database replicas, stateless services |
| Real-time Features | Event-driven architecture, WebSockets | Message queues, event sourcing, push notifications |
| Complex Business Logic | Domain-driven design, service separation | Clear service boundaries, API design |
| Regulatory Compliance | Audit trails, data protection, access controls | Encryption, logging, role-based access |
Step 2: Architecture Patterns Selection
Choose appropriate patterns based on your requirements:
Pattern Selection Guide:
| Pattern | Best For | Complexity | Team Size | Scalability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monolithic | MVPs, simple apps, small teams | Low | 1-5 devs | Vertical only |
| Microservices | Complex domains, large teams | High | 10+ devs | Horizontal |
| Event-Driven | Real-time systems, high throughput | Medium | 5-15 devs | Horizontal |
| Serverless | Variable workloads, rapid scaling | Medium | 3-8 devs | Auto-scaling |
Step 3: Technology Stack Decisions
Make informed technology choices using decision matrices:
Frontend Technology Decision Example
# Frontend Framework Decision Matrix
## Requirements
- Team has React experience
- Need mobile-responsive design
- SEO important for marketing pages
- Real-time updates required
## Options Evaluation
| Criteria | Weight | Next.js | Nuxt.js | SvelteKit | Angular |
|----------|--------|---------|---------|-----------|---------|
| Team Expertise | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| SEO Support | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Real-time Features | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Community/Ecosystem | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Performance | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Learning Curve | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
## Final Scores
- **Next.js: 4.5** ← Recommended
- Nuxt.js: 3.5
- SvelteKit: 3.4
- Angular: 3.2
Step 4: Component Design
Break down your system into logical components:
Component Responsibility Matrix:
| Component | Primary Responsibility | Dependencies | Scalability Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| API Gateway | Request routing, auth, rate limiting | Auth service | Horizontal scaling |
| User Service | User management, authentication | Database, cache | Horizontal scaling |
| Project Service | Project CRUD, business logic | Database, cache, user service | Horizontal scaling |
| Notification Service | Email, push, in-app notifications | Queue system, external APIs | Queue-based scaling |
| File Service | File upload, storage, CDN | Object storage | CDN + horizontal scaling |
AI-Assisted Architecture Planning
Architecture Generation Prompts
System Architecture Prompt:
I need to design a system architecture for a [PROJECT TYPE] with these requirements:
FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- [List key features]
- [Expected user workflows]
- [Integration needs]
NON-FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Expected users: [NUMBER]
- Performance: [REQUIREMENTS]
- Security: [REQUIREMENTS]
- Compliance: [REQUIREMENTS]
CONSTRAINTS:
- Team size: [NUMBER] developers
- Timeline: [DURATION]
- Budget: [CONSIDERATIONS]
- Technology preferences: [LIST]
Please provide:
1. High-level system architecture with components
2. Technology stack recommendations with rationale
3. Deployment architecture
4. Scalability plan
5. Security considerations
6. Mermaid diagrams for visual documentation
Focus on maintainable, proven patterns rather than cutting-edge technology.
Component Design Prompt:
Design the internal architecture for a [COMPONENT NAME] with these responsibilities:
- [PRIMARY FUNCTIONS]
- [KEY INTERACTIONS]
- [PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS]
Please provide:
1. Component internal structure
2. Interface definitions (APIs)
3. Data models and relationships
4. Error handling strategy
5. Testing approach
6. Deployment considerations
Use [TECHNOLOGY STACK] and follow [ARCHITECTURE PATTERN] patterns.
Architecture Review Prompts
Design Validation Prompt:
Review this system architecture for potential issues:
ARCHITECTURE:
[PASTE YOUR ARCHITECTURE DESCRIPTION]
REQUIREMENTS:
[PASTE REQUIREMENTS]
Please analyze:
1. Scalability bottlenecks
2. Single points of failure
3. Security vulnerabilities
4. Maintenance complexity
5. Cost implications
6. Alternative approaches
Provide specific recommendations for improvement.
Practical Architecture Examples
Example 1: E-commerce Platform
Requirements:
- 100K+ users, high availability required
- Real-time inventory updates
- Payment processing integration
- Mobile and web interfaces
Architecture Solution:
Key Decisions:
- Microservices for independent scaling of catalog vs. cart vs. orders
- Redis for cart state - fast, temporary data perfect for session storage
- Elasticsearch for search - optimized for product discovery
- Separate payment service - security isolation and PCI compliance
Example 2: SaaS Dashboard Application
Requirements:
- Multi-tenant architecture
- Real-time analytics and reporting
- Role-based access control
- API for third-party integrations
Architecture Solution:
Key Decisions:
- TimescaleDB for analytics - Time-series optimized for dashboard queries
- Message queue for integrations - Handles variable load from external APIs
- Separate auth service - Multi-tenant security with role management
- ETL pipeline - Processes and aggregates data for reporting
Architecture Documentation Templates
System Architecture Document Template
# System Architecture Document
## Executive Summary
- **Project**: [PROJECT NAME]
- **Architecture Pattern**: [PATTERN CHOSEN]
- **Key Technologies**: [MAIN TECH STACK]
- **Deployment Model**: [CLOUD/ON-PREM/HYBRID]
## Business Context
- **Requirements Summary**: [KEY REQUIREMENTS]
- **Success Criteria**: [HOW SUCCESS IS MEASURED]
- **Constraints**: [TECHNICAL/BUSINESS/REGULATORY]
## Architecture Overview
### High-Level Architecture
```mermaid
[SYSTEM OVERVIEW DIAGRAM]
Component Responsibilities
| Component | Purpose | Technology | Scaling Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
Technology Decisions
Decision Matrix
| Technology Area | Options Considered | Decision | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frontend | |||
| Backend | |||
| Database | |||
| Deployment |
Architecture Trade-offs
| Decision | Benefits | Costs | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|
Quality Attributes
Performance
- Response Time: [TARGET]
- Throughput: [TARGET]
- Scalability: [STRATEGY]
Security
- Authentication: [MECHANISM]
- Authorization: [RBAC/ABAC]
- Data Protection: [ENCRYPTION/PRIVACY]
Reliability
- Availability: [TARGET %]
- Disaster Recovery: [RTO/RPO]
- Monitoring: [STRATEGY]
Deployment Architecture
Infrastructure Requirements
- Compute: [REQUIREMENTS]
- Storage: [REQUIREMENTS]
- Network: [REQUIREMENTS]
Environments
- Development: [SETUP]
- Staging: [SETUP]
- Production: [SETUP]
Future Considerations
- Growth Plans: [HOW ARCHITECTURE WILL EVOLVE]
- Technology Roadmap: [PLANNED UPGRADES]
- Risk Mitigation: [KNOWN RISKS AND PLANS]
## Common Architecture Patterns
### API-First Architecture
**When to Use:** Multi-platform applications, third-party integrations
**Benefits:** Flexibility, reusability, independent development
**Challenges:** API versioning, performance overhead, complexity
```mermaid
graph LR
subgraph "Clients"
WEB[Web App]
MOBILE[Mobile App]
PARTNER[Partner API]
end
subgraph "API Layer"
GATEWAY[API Gateway]
AUTH[Authentication]
DOCS[API Documentation]
end
subgraph "Services"
SERVICE1[Service A]
SERVICE2[Service B]
SERVICE3[Service C]
end
WEB --> GATEWAY
MOBILE --> GATEWAY
PARTNER --> GATEWAY
GATEWAY --> AUTH
AUTH --> SERVICE1
AUTH --> SERVICE2
AUTH --> SERVICE3
Event-Driven Architecture
When to Use: Real-time systems, loose coupling, scalable processing Benefits: Scalability, resilience, flexibility Challenges: Complexity, debugging, eventual consistency
Layered Architecture
When to Use: Traditional business applications, clear separation of concerns Benefits: Maintainability, testability, team organization Challenges: Performance, rigid structure, cross-cutting concerns
Architecture Review Checklist
Scalability Review
- Horizontal Scaling: Components can scale independently
- Database Scaling: Read replicas, sharding, or partitioning planned
- Caching Strategy: Appropriate caching at multiple levels
- Load Distribution: Load balancing and traffic management
- Resource Optimization: Efficient use of compute and storage
Security Review
- Authentication: Secure user verification mechanism
- Authorization: Role-based access control implemented
- Data Protection: Encryption in transit and at rest
- Input Validation: All user inputs validated and sanitized
- Security Boundaries: Trust zones clearly defined
Reliability Review
- Fault Tolerance: System handles component failures gracefully
- Monitoring: Comprehensive observability and alerting
- Backup Strategy: Data backup and recovery procedures
- Health Checks: Service health monitoring and auto-recovery
- Graceful Degradation: System continues operating with reduced functionality
Maintainability Review
- Code Organization: Clear module and service boundaries
- Documentation: Architecture and API documentation complete
- Testing Strategy: Unit, integration, and end-to-end tests planned
- Deployment Process: Automated, repeatable deployment pipeline
- Monitoring: Operational metrics and business intelligence
Next Steps
Continue Your Design Journey
- Diagram Creation - Master visual architecture documentation
- Technical Blueprints - Create detailed technical specifications
- Pull Request Reviews - Implement design review processes
Apply Your Knowledge
- Use the Architecture Planning Recipe for your next project
- Practice with the System Design Workshop
- Join the GISE Community to share your architectures
Remember: Great architecture is not about using the latest technology—it's about making thoughtful decisions that serve your requirements and team capabilities.