Core Architecture Patterns
Layered Architecture Pattern
Three-Tier Structure Implementation
Apply layered architecture with strict separation of concerns:
- •Presentation Layer: User interface components
- •Business Logic Layer: Domain rules and operations
- •Data Access Layer: Database and external service interactions
Enforce unidirectional dependencies:
- •Presentation Layer → Business Logic Layer
- •Business Logic Layer → Data Access Layer
- •Never allow reverse dependencies
Domain Boundaries Enforcement
Separate domain logic from infrastructure:
- •Keep business rules independent of frameworks
- •Use dependency injection for infrastructure concerns
- •Apply Domain-Driven Design principles
- •Define clear bounded contexts for complex domains
Interface segregation requirements:
- •Create specific interfaces for different client needs
- •Avoid fat interfaces with multiple responsibilities
- •Use repository pattern for data access abstraction
- •Implement service interfaces for business operations
Microservices Pattern Guidelines
Service Decomposition Rules
Apply single responsibility principle at service level:
- •Each service owns one business capability
- •Design services around business domains
- •Ensure loose coupling between services
- •Implement high cohesion within services
Communication patterns enforcement:
- •Prefer synchronous communication for critical operations
- •Use asynchronous messaging for event-driven workflows
- •Implement circuit breakers for resilience
- •Apply API gateway pattern for external access
Data Consistency Patterns
Implement eventual consistency where appropriate:
- •Use saga pattern for distributed transactions
- •Apply event sourcing for audit trails
- •Implement CQRS for read/write separation
- •Ensure data ownership boundaries are clear
Event-Driven Architecture Implementation
Event Design Principles
Design immutable, atomic events:
- •Each event represents a single business fact
- •Use past tense for event names (UserRegistered, OrderPlaced)
- •Include all required data in the event payload
- •Apply idempotency handling for duplicate events
Event handling patterns:
- •Implement event handlers as pure functions
- •Use correlation IDs for request tracing
- •Apply dead letter queues for failed events
- •Monitor and log event processing metrics
Message Broker Integration
Configure reliable messaging infrastructure:
- •Set up topic/exchange hierarchies
- •Implement message versioning strategies
- •Configure appropriate quality of service levels
- •Apply backpressure handling for overload protection
Enterprise Integration Patterns
API Design Standards
RESTful API Implementation
Follow REST architectural constraints:
- •Use appropriate HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE)
- •Implement proper status codes for all responses
- •Apply resource-based URL naming conventions
- •Use content negotiation for format handling
API documentation requirements:
- •Generate OpenAPI/Swagger specifications
- •Include comprehensive request/response examples
- •Document error codes and handling procedures
- •Provide authentication and authorization details
GraphQL Integration Patterns
Schema-first development approach:
- •Define clear type system with strong typing
- •Implement proper resolver chains
- •Apply authorization at field level
- •Use data loaders to prevent N+1 queries
Performance optimization techniques:
- •Implement query complexity analysis
- •Apply query depth limiting
- •Use persisted queries for frequently used operations
- •Monitor and log query performance metrics
Security Architecture Patterns
Zero Trust Security Model
Implement defense-in-depth security:
- •Apply least privilege access control
- •Use mTLS for service-to-service communication
- •Implement JWT/OIDC for authentication
- •Apply API throttling and rate limiting
Security monitoring and auditing:
- •Log all security-relevant events
- •Implement intrusion detection systems
- •Apply security information and event management (SIEM)
- •Conduct regular security assessments
Secure API Gateway Configuration
Apply API gateway security patterns:
- •Implement request/response transformation
- •Apply JSON Web Token validation
- •Use web application firewall (WAF) rules
- •Implement distributed tracing for security monitoring
Architecture Quality Attributes
Scalability Patterns
Horizontal Scaling Implementation
Design for stateless services:
- •Externalize session state using distributed caches
- •Use database connection pooling efficiently
- •Implement auto-scaling policies based on metrics
- •Apply blue-green deployment strategies
Performance optimization techniques:
- •Implement caching at multiple levels (CDN, application, database)
- •Use read replicas for database scaling
- •Apply asynchronous processing for non-critical operations
- •Implement sharding strategies for large datasets
Resilience and Fault Tolerance
Implement self-healing mechanisms:
- •Use health checks for service monitoring
- •Apply exponential backoff for retry logic
- •Implement circuit breakers to prevent cascading failures
- •Use chaos engineering for resilience testing
Disaster recovery planning:
- •Implement multi-region deployment strategies
- •Use backup and restore procedures
- •Apply data replication across geographic locations
- •Document and test recovery procedures
Maintainability and Evolution
Technical Debt Management
Apply architectural fitness functions:
- •Define measurable quality metrics
- •Implement automated architecture compliance checks
- •Use architectural decision records (ADRs)
- •Regularly review and refactor architectural decisions
Evolutionary architecture principles:
- •Design for change with loose coupling
- •Use abstraction layers to isolate volatility
- •Implement feature flags for safe deployments
- •Apply strangler fig pattern for legacy system migration
Documentation and Communication
Maintain architectural documentation:
- •Create context diagrams for system overviews
- •Document data flows and integration points
- •Maintain architectural decision records
- •Provide deployment and runbooks
Cross-functional collaboration:
- •Conduct regular architecture reviews
- •Use pair programming for critical components
- •Implement knowledge sharing practices
- •Provide training on architectural standards