Towards-being-a-better-software-architect

This is a collection of resources that has been influential in my journey towards being a software architect. I don’t claim to have read and mastered everything listed here but I made this for record keeping and quick lookup when I need to on my day-to-day work. I hope you may find inspiration in the many sites and people listed here.

Data Science and AI

• https://ibm.github.io/data-science-best-practices/architecture.html
• https://developer.ibm.com/articles/architectural-thinking-in-the-wild-west-of-data-science/
• https://thedatascientist.com/data-science-architect/
• https://www.roberthalf.com/us/en/insights/career-development/how-to-become-an-artificial-intelligence-architect
• https://www.simplilearn.com/how-to-become-machine-learning-architect-article
• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/ai-ml/
• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/ai-ml/architecture/customer-lifecycle-churn
• https://www.gartner.com/en/articles/what-are-ai-architects-and-what-do-they-do
• Create a Data Strategy to Ensure Success in Machine Learning Initiatives https://www.gartner.com/document/code/741114?ref=authbody&refval=4002780
• https://www.coursera.org/articles/ai-architect

Architecture in Real Life Practice

Architecture in real life and field experiecnces in implementing various architecture styles, patterns and practices.

• Netflix https://highscalability.com/netflix-what-happens-when-you-press-play/
• Uber Scaling https://highscalability.com/brief-history-of-scaling-uber/
• Meta Presto https://highscalability.com/lessons-learned-running-presto-at-meta-scale/
• Max reHIT Workout https://highscalability.com/architecture-of-max-rehit-workout/
• TripleLift https://highscalability.com/how-triplelift-built-an-adtech-data-pipeline-processing-bill/
• Zoom https://highscalability.com/a-short-on-how-zoom-works/
• Uber DataMesh https://www.uber.com/en-DK/blog/datamesh
• Egnyte https://highscalability.com/egnyte-architecture-lessons-learned-in-building-and-scaling-65bcda83ffae163275932626/
• ShiftLeft https://highscalability.com/how-shiftleft-uses-postgresql-extension-timescaledb/
• AdCash https://highscalability.com/adcash-1-trillion-http-requests-per-month/
• Yandex https://highscalability.com/adcash-1-trillion-http-requests-per-month/
• MorningStar https://highscalability.com/why-morningstar-moved-to-the-cloud-97-cost-reduction/
• HelloFresh https://highscalability.com/scaling-hellofresh-api-gateway/
• Optimizely https://highscalability.com/the-story-of-batching-to-streaming-analytics-at-optimizely/
• Zalando https://engineering.zalando.com/posts/2017/10/event-first-development—moving-towards-kafka-pipeline-applications.html
• Decathlon https://www.infoq.com/news/2024/07/decathlon-architecture-process/?topicPageSponsorship=5c002745-f1c7-4730-a95c-7de721e76f77Q
• Grab https://engineering.grab.com/how-we-store-millions-orders
• Duolingo https://www.infoq.com/presentations/duolingo-high-scale-notification/

Practice

• https://jeffreypalermo.com/2008/07/the-onion-architecture-part-1/
• https://blog.cleancoder.com/uncle-bob/2012/08/13/the-clean-architecture.html

Styles

How the system is going to be constructed and serves as framework eveluating the candidate solutions.

• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/guide/architecture-styles/n-tier
• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/guide/architecture-styles/microservices
• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/guide/architecture-styles/event-driven
• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/guide/architecture-styles/big-data
• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/guide/architecture-styles/big-compute
• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/guide/architecture-styles/web-queue-worker
• https://microservices.io/
• https://kubernetes.io/

Patterns

Well known solutions to achieve the selected architecture styles at the level of subsystems, modules and components.

• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/patterns/

Designs

Well known tactical solutions to solve common and recurring problems at the level of classes and functions in code.

• https://www.dofactory.com/net/design-patterns

Principles

General guidance for a better solution and application design.

• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/guide/design-principles/
• https://12factor.net/
• https://www.joelonsoftware.com/2000/08/09/the-joel-test-12-steps-to-better-code/
• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/msp-n-p/ee658124(v=pandp.10)

Portals

Specialized sites aggregating software architecture content.

• https://www.infoq.com/architecture-design/
• https://www.thoughtworks.com/insights/articles
• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/
• https://aws.amazon.com/architecture/
• https://cloud.google.com/architecture

Engineering

• Spotify https://engineering.atspotify.com/
• Stripe https://stripe.com/blog/engineering
• Wise https://medium.com/wise-engineering
• Uber https://www.uber.com/en-DK/blog/engineering/
• Zalando https://engineering.zalando.com/
• Grab https://engineering.grab.com/
• Meta https://engineering.fb.com/
• Netflix https://netflixtechblog.com/

People

Inspiring architects, authoris and techn people to follow.

• https://architectelevator.com/
• https://www.developertoarchitect.com
• https://herbertograca.com/
• http://cleancoder.com/
• https://samnewman.io/
• https://martinfowler.com/
• https://nealford.com/
• https://www.michaelnygard.com/

Security

Helpful security frameworks to consider applying threat model into our architecture

• https://attack.mitre.org/
• https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/securityengineering/sdl

Compliance

Regulatory compliance entites to highly consider in architecture and design.

• https://www.nerc.com/pa/Stand/Pages/CIPStandards.aspx
• https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/caf
• https://gdpr-info.eu/

Whiteboards

Colloboration tools with flavors to be used as diagram tool.

• https://miro.com/
• https://sketchboard.io/
• http://en.linoit.com/

Diagrams

Diagram tools with a lot more free hand.

• https://app.diagrams.net/
• https://www.lucidchart.com/
• https://www.visual-paradigm.com/
• https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/visio/flowchart-software
• https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/powerpoint

Models

Diagram tools with a metatadata database to re-use the objects accross multiple viewpoints.

• https://www.archimatetool.com/
• https://www.sparxsystems.eu/

Reference Architectures

Blueprint to use if you are to start from blank.

• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/browse/
• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/reference-architectures/containers/aks-start-here

Certifications

Badges to show that may help acknowledge our degree of your experience and expertise.

• https://www.iasaglobal.org//certifications/
• https://www.opengroup.org/certifications/togaf-individual-certification
• https://www.zachman.com/certification/certification-workshop
• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-gb/learn/certifications/browse/?resource_type=examination&roles=solution-architect
• https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certified-solutions-architect-associate/?nc1=f_ls

Youtube Channels

Inspiring talks, channels and content all about architecture.

• https://www.youtube.com/@infoq
• https://www.youtube.com/@ByteByteGo
• https://www.youtube.com/@ContinuousDelivery
• https://www.youtube.com/@MarcoLenzo
• https://www.youtube.com/@hnasr
• https://www.youtube.com/@markrichards5014
• https://www.youtube.com/@HealthyDev
• https://www.youtube.com/@memilavi-thesoftwarearchit9475
• https://www.youtube.com/@DevMentorsEN

Medium Aggregators

High quality collection of articles pubished on medium.

Facebook Groups

The new forums online where we can openly talk about architecture and design.

Open Foundations

Open source consortioms that influence the maturity of many technologies we use to realize our target architecture.

• https://www.cncf.io/
• https://www.linuxfoundation.org/
• https://dotnetfoundation.org/
• https://www.iotsecurityfoundation.org/

Market Research

Management level inputs that can influence our architecture designs particularly at the enterprise level.

• https://www.gartner.com/en/information-technology
• https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/mckinsey-digital/our-insights
• https://www.forrester.com/blogs/category/architecture-technology-strategy/
• https://www.thoughtworks.com/insights/technology
• https://blogs.idc.com/category/markets-and-trends/

Books

Influential books and inspiring authors to follow.\

• Domain Driven Design https://www.amazon.com/Domain-Driven-Design-Tackling-Complexity-Software/dp/0321125215
• Clean Architecture https://www.amazon.com/Clean-Architecture-Craftsmans-Software-Structure/dp/0134494164
• Software Architecture: The Hard Parts https://www.amazon.com/Software-Architecture-Trade-Off-Distributed-Architectures/dp/1492086894
• Enterprise Integration Patterns https://www.amazon.com/Enterprise-Integration-Patterns-Designing-Deploying/dp/0321200683
• Designing Data Intensive Applications https://www.amazon.com/Designing-Data-Intensive-Applications-Reliable-Maintainable/dp/1449373321
• Design Patterns - https://www.amazon.com/Design-Patterns-Elements-Reusable-Object-Oriented/dp/0201633612
• The Managers Path https://www.amazon.com/Managers-Path-Leaders-Navigating-Growth/dp/1491973897
• Mythical Man Month https://www.amazon.com/Mythical-Man-Month-Software-Engineering-Anniversary/dp/0201835959
• The DevOps Handbook https://www.amazon.com/DevOps-Handbook-World-Class-Reliability-Organizations/dp/1950508404
• Team Topologies https://www.amazon.com/Team-Topologies-Organizing-Business-Technology/dp/1942788819
• Accelerate https://www.amazon.com/Accelerate-Software-Performing-Technology-Organizations/dp/1942788339
• Code Complete 2 https://www.amazon.com/Code-Complete-Practical-Handbook-Construction/dp/0735619670
• Refactoring to Patterns https://www.amazon.com/Refactoring-Patterns-Addison-Wesley-Signature-Fowler-ebook/dp/B001TKD4RQ
• The Pragmatic Programmer https://www.amazon.com/Pragmatic-Programmer-Journeyman-Master/dp/020161622X

Tips

• http://jheyman.github.io/blog/pages/VisioTips/

References

• https://herbertograca.com/2017/07/28/architectural-styles-vs-architectural-patterns-vs-design-patterns/
• https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3958316/whats-the-difference-between-architectural-patterns-and-architectural-styles
• https://herbertograca.com/category/development/series/the-software-architecture-chronicles/
• https://singhdivesh.medium.com/according-to-wikipedia-b1afa6de08c