Architecture Skill
Design end-to-end solutions with clear patterns, decisions, and visual documentation.
Purpose
Move from requirements to implementable architecture through:
- •Pattern selection and justification
- •Technology stack decisions
- •Cross-cutting concern planning
- •Architectural Decision Records (ADRs)
Process
1. Gather Context
- •Read outcome document
- •Analyze requirements
- •Identify constraints
- •Understand scale needs
2. Select Patterns
Choose architectural style:
- •Monolithic - Simple deployment, single codebase
- •Microservices - Independent scaling, team autonomy
- •Serverless - Event-driven, auto-scaling
- •Event-Driven - Loose coupling, async
- •Layered - Clear separation, traditional
3. Make Decisions
Recommend stack based on:
- •Requirements fit
- •Team expertise
- •Ecosystem maturity
- •Cost considerations
4. Document
Creates in phases/design/:
design/
├── architecture.md
├── decisions/
│ ├── 001-architecture-style.md
│ └── 002-tech-stack.md
└── diagrams/
└── system-context.mmd
Output Format
See ADR Template for decision records.
See Architecture Template for full structure.
Integration
With wicked-crew
Auto-engaged during design phase.
Publishes: [arch:design:completed:success]
With wicked-qe
Architecture informs test strategy:
- •Critical paths
- •Failure modes
- •Performance targets
With wicked-kanban
Track work with ADR links:
TodoWrite "ADR-001" --reference "phases/design/decisions/001.md"
Architectural Thinking
Balance Trade-offs
- •Simplicity vs Flexibility - Easy now vs extensible later
- •Performance vs Maintainability - Fast vs readable
- •Coupling vs Duplication - DRY vs independent
- •Build vs Buy - Control vs speed
Apply Principles
- •SOLID - Single responsibility, dependency inversion
- •YAGNI - Build for now, not speculation
- •Separation of Concerns - Clear boundaries
Consider NFRs
- •Scalability - Users, growth rate
- •Security - Threats, compliance
- •Performance - Latency, throughput
- •Reliability - Uptime, DR
- •Maintainability - Team, skillset
Detect Scope Creep
When reviewing changes (not greenfield):
- •Flag unauthorized architectural changes (new boundaries, changed patterns)
- •Flag "while I'm here" improvements beyond the task scope
- •Flag components restructured beyond what was requested
Common Patterns
Layered
UI → Application → Domain → Infrastructure
Use: Traditional apps, clear separation
Microservices
API Gateway → Services
Use: Large teams, independent deployment
Event-Driven
Producers → Bus → Consumers
Use: Async workflows, loose coupling
See Pattern Catalog for detailed examples.
Events
- •
[arch:design:completed:success]- Architecture done - •
[arch:decision:documented:success]- ADR created - •
[arch:diagram:generated:success]- Diagram created
Tips
- •Start Simple - Don't over-engineer
- •Document Decisions - Future you will thank you
- •Show Alternatives - Explain your choices
- •Use Diagrams - Visual communication
- •Make it Scannable - Quick understanding