Lecture 3_ Software Architecture_1

Architecture

The fundamental organization of a system embodied in its components, their relationships to each other and to the environment and the principles guiding its design and evolution.

Systems Architecture

The fundamental and unifying system structure defined in terms of system elements, interfaces, processes, constraints, and behaviors.

Components

The computational elements and data stores of the system, potentially with multiple interfaces, called ports.

Connectors

Models interactions among components, mediating communication and coordination activities.

Systems

Graphs of components and connectors that tend to be hierarchical, where components may represent subsystems.

Properties

Non-structural information about the parts of an architecture description, such as whether a connector is a function call.

Style

An architectural style represents a family of related systems, defining design vocabulary for components, connectors, roles, and properties.

System Architect

A team member responsible for designing and building a system, aware both of individual components and their interrelationships.

Systems Architecting

The process of creating complex, unprecedented systems in response to ill-defined market requirements and technology evolution.

Evolutionary Development

An approach to system development that allows for flexibility and adaptation to changing requirements and technology.

Functional Architecture

A set of activities or functions arranged to achieve specific requirements.

Physical Architecture

A representation of the physical resources expressed as nodes and links that constitute the system.

Technical Architecture

A minimal set of rules governing arrangement, interaction, and interdependence of parts ensuring a conformant system.

Operational Concept

A concise statement that describes how the system will operate and act in its operational environment.

Executable Model

A dynamic representation of the architecture required to analyze behavior and evaluate performance characteristics.

Architecture Development Process

Comprises three phases: Analysis, Synthesis, and Evaluation of the system's architecture.

MOP (Measures of Performance)

Measures used to assess the performance of an architecture.

MOE (Measures of Effectiveness)

Measures used to evaluate the effectiveness of an architecture.

Analysis Phase

Phase where static representatives of functional and physical architectures are obtained.

Synthesis Phase

Phase that uses static constructs alongside dynamic behavior descriptions to develop executable operational architectures.

Evaluation Phase

Phase where effectiveness and performance measures are obtained for the architecture.

Requirements

Specification of what the system needs to achieve, heavily influencing system architecture design.

Port

An interface that defines a point of interaction between a component and its environment.

Bindings

Mappings that connect interfaces of one level of a system to another.

Stakeholders

Individuals or groups affected by the operation and decisions of the system.

Scenarios

Collections of events that describe how stakeholders interact with the system throughout its lifecycle.

Design Vocabulary

The specific terms and guidelines used to define components, connectors, and other elements in an architectural style.

Level of Abstraction

Refers to how detailed or general a model or concept is within system architecture.

System Development Model

Traditional methodologies used to support system architecting, including requirement definition and design optimization.

Ill-defined Market Requirements

Unclear or changing specifications for what a system should accomplish, complicating system architecture.

Flexibility in Design

The ability to adapt system architecture as new information or technologies become available.

Prototype

An early sample or model built to test a concept or process.

Hierarchy

A system's organizational structure where components are arranged in layers of importance or control.

Interrelationships

The connections and dependencies between different components of a system.

Technology Alternatives

Various technological options available that can be selected for system development.

Dynamic Behavior

The change in behavior of a system as it processes data or responds to its environment.

Design Constraints

Limitations or restrictions that affect how a system can be designed and built.

User Interaction

How end-users engage and communicate with the system components during operation.

Lifecycle Scenarios

Different phases in which a system will function, be maintained, and eventually retired.

System Integration

The process of combining different subsystems into a single cohesive system.

Component Interface

The point at which different system components interact, facilitating communication and functionality.

Master Builder

An original meaning of the term ‘architecture’, referring to the one who designs and constructs systems.

Colocation of Nodes

Positioning of various system components in a specific way to facilitate connectivity.

Real-time Constraints

Requirements that dictate responses from the system must occur within a specific timeframe.