The best free and paid tools to visualize your software architecture ⚡ Tl;dr Software architecture tools can be categorized into three groups, modelling tools, diagrams as code and diagramming tools. Modelling and diagrams as code tools are better suited for long-term documentation, while diagramming tools are better for quick one-off sketches. Modelling…

Reducing maintenance of software architecture diagrams with interactive IcePanel overlays ⚡ Tl;dr Even though diagrams are quick to make, organizing and maintaining them can be a burden. Consider when creating a new diagram is warranted and whether it should be short or long-lived. IcePanel overlays additional info on top of existing diagrams…

Best practices for modelling your software architecture in IcePanel using the C4 model ⚡ Tl;dr Spending time upfront with your team to collaborate on abstractions and boundaries will help lay a solid foundation for your model. Domains exist at the top level of the hierarchy and allow you to split your entire model into high-level business verticals. Containers in the C4 model aren’t Docker containers…

Common diagramming mistakes we see and how to easily fix them ⚡ Tl;dr Diagrams are the bread and butter of explaining how software systems work to many people. Unfortunately, they often contain common mistakes that make them confusing, not accessible to the whole team and less valuable than desired. By fixing these…

Use these simple tips to improve your C4 model software architecture whiteboard sessions ⚡ Tl;dr We spend most of our time on digital products, but nothing beats a whiteboard session for fast iteration of ideas. Boxes and lines work “enough”, but if using the C4 model, you’ll want to continue using the…

Why generating diagrams from code may not be as helpful as you think ⚡ Tl;dr The model code gap is the difference between the abstractions we use to discuss software architecture and the reality of the source code. Automated tools generate diagrams that are a 1:1 accurate representation of your infrastructure and…

Why we used a minimalist backend REST API powered by an OpenAPI spec ⚡ Tl;dr Align your team with the high-level technical tradeoffs you should be making based on your business goals and company culture. Ensure your team considers the long-term implications of building your backend on top of a “kitchen-sink included”…

A set of workshops to help you get started with the C4 model ⚡ Tl;dr Getting started with the C4 model in your organization can be hard on your own, without buy-in from the rest of your team Starting with a collaborative approach helps others understand the process and benefits quicker Use…

When starting your C4 model journey, a common question is “what are our systems?”… here’s how you work that out ⚡ Tl;dr Defining systems in your business within the C4 model can be difficult when starting to use the C4 model Taking time to step back and work on this as a…