AGILA - Agile software architecture
Part 1What is it actually?
In February 2001, 17 software developers met. From their perspective, the prevailing methods lacked flexibility and customer proximity. The Agile Manifesto was created and revolutionized the working methods in software development in a similar way that ChatGPT is doing today. The core of agile methods is customer proximity, rapid feedback loops, and continuous changes based on the received feedback. Agile approaches place people at the center of work, not only on the customer side but also within the team.
Mythbusting: In relation to documentation, the Agile Manifesto is often misunderstood. Agile work does not forgo documentation, but uses it differently. For example, requirement specifications are omitted and replaced with smaller work packages.
How does it work?
Agile software architecture prioritizes working software over comprehensive documentation and emphasizes close collaboration between architects, developers, and customers. Architects work closely with stakeholders to understand requirements and receive continuous feedback. The architecture is incrementally developed and adjusted to respond to changing requirements and insights.
What’s the purpose of all this?
This approach reflects the values of the Agile Manifesto, focusing on individuals and interactions, working software, collaboration with customers, and the willingness to adapt to change. Agile software architecture promotes the creation of an evolutionary architecture that relies on clear communication, fast feedback, and continuous adjustment. This enables development teams to respond flexibly to challenges and deliver high-quality software solutions that meet customer requirements.
We are excited to offer you an engaging blog series in three parts, exploring the fundamentals and challenges of software architecture in an agile environment.
Part 1: Fundamentals of Software Architecture and Agility
Join us as we explore the basics to understand the essential concepts of software architecture and agile methods.
Part 2: Agile Architectural Approach
In the second part, we dive deeper and show you how to successfully integrate agile principles into your architectural approaches.
Part 3: Architectural Requirements in Agile Projects
Finally, we explore the specific requirements that are placed on architecture in agile projects and how you can meet them.
Be part of it and expand your knowledge on the intersection of software architecture and agility.
Part 1)
Fundamentals of Software Architecture
Software architecture refers to the organized structure and design of software systems, consisting of various components, modules, and interactions. It defines the fundamental decisions and principles that influence the entire software development process, ensuring that systems meet the desired requirements, are scalable, maintainable, and extensible.
Software architecture deals with the following topics and questions:
- Components and Modules: How is the software divided into components and modules? What are the functions of these units, and how do they interact with each other?
- Communication and Interfaces: How do the various components communicate with each other? What interfaces define their interaction?
- Data Flow and Storage: How are data processed, stored, and transmitted within the system?
- Scalability: How can the software architecture be extended to meet growing demands?
- Maintainability: How easy is it to find and fix bugs, as well as add new features without impacting the entire system?
- Security: How are security aspects considered in the system to protect data and functions from unauthorized access?
- Performance: How is it ensured that the software operates efficiently under the expected load?
- Technology Selection: Which technologies, programming languages, frameworks, or platforms are used to implement the desired architecture?
- Patterns and Styles: What proven patterns and architectural styles (e.g., layered architecture, microservices, monolithic, …) are applied to achieve the system’s goals?
- Documentation: How is the architecture documented to ensure that developers understand the system and can work on it?
The choice of an appropriate software architecture is critical to the success of a software project, as it lays the foundation for the entire development process. A well-thought-out architecture enables efficient development, better collaboration within the team, and facilitates future adjustments and extensions.
Fundamentals of Agility
Agile principles are a set of guidelines and values that are applied to foster a flexible, customer-oriented, and efficient way of working. The “Agile Manifesto” emphasizes the importance of individuals and interactions, working software, customer collaboration, and the willingness to respond to change.
The agile principles are:
- Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
Collaboration between team members and clear communication are prioritized. Effective collaboration leads to better understanding and ultimately to successful implementation.
- Working software over comprehensive documentation
The priority is to develop working software that meets user needs. Documentation is important, but it should not distract from actual development.
- Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
Close collaboration with the user enables the team to better understand their requirements and needs. User feedback is crucial for continuously improving the software.
- Responding to change over following a plan
Rather than strictly following a rigid plan, agile teams should be ready to respond flexibly to changes and new insights. Change is seen as an opportunity for adaptation and improvement.
Building on the 4 values, the Agile Manifesto derives twelve principles for collaboration between the development team and customers:
- The highest priority is to ensure early and continuous delivery. This approach is intended to ensure that development does not proceed without considering the users’ needs.
- Changes are welcomed. Continuous feedback can turn this approach into a competitive advantage.
- Functional software that can be delivered in short time spans.
- Work closely with customers and users to define requirements and receive ongoing feedback.
- Build motivated individuals and provide them with the environment and support they need. Trust that they will get the job done.
- The most efficient and effective method for conveying information to and within a development team is face-to-face conversation.
- Working software is the primary measure of progress.
- Agile processes promote sustainable development. Developers, sponsors, and users should be able to maintain a constant pace indefinitely.
- Continuous attention to technical excellence and good design enhances agility.
- Simplicity – the art of maximizing the amount of work not done – is essential.
- The best architectures, requirements, and designs emerge in self-organizing teams.
- At regular intervals, the team and its members reflect on how they can become more effective and adjust their behavior accordingly.
These agile principles form the foundation for agile development methods like Scrum, Kanban, Extreme Programming, and others, helping teams develop high-quality software with high flexibility and user satisfaction.
In agile software development projects, evolutionary software architecture and emergent design are increasingly being used, as opposed to predefined architecture (often referred to as “Big Design Up Front”). Techniques such as Behavior Driven Development, Test-Driven Development, and especially Refactoring ensure that the technical design and architecture are constantly adjusted to the requirements throughout the software development project.
In the second part of our blog series “Agile Software Architecture,” we will look at how agile principles can be implemented in software architecture design under the topic “Agile Architecture Approach.”