Software Architecture with C4 Model

January 2, 2024 • ☕️☕️ 8 min read • 🏷 computer, software, software-architecture

Translated by author into: English

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In the software development process, understanding the complexity of a project, communicating design decisions, and ensuring effective communication within the team are essential elements of a successful project. At this point, understanding and visualizing the software architecture is a critical step in creating a common understanding among project stakeholders. The C4 Model stands out as a powerful tool to simplify and visualize software architecture.

What is C4 Model?

The C4 Model is a methodology designed to describe software architecture at four basic levels: Context, Containers, Components, and Code. These levels offer different perspectives for understanding and designing the software system so that a common language can be created among project stakeholders.

Context Level

The Context Level describes in detail the relationships of the software system with its external world. This level focuses on determining the overall goals of the project and understanding the factors in the system’s environment. At this stage, the objectives and scope of the project are clearly determined. What problems does the software system aim to solve? What needs does it meet? The answers to these questions will be decisive in the development process of the system.

Stakeholders are of particular importance within the Context Level. This includes everyone who will interact with the system, such as users, customers, financial backers of the project. Stakeholder expectations greatly impact the success of the project, so it is critical to understand and document these expectations at this stage. At this level, other software systems that interact with the system, current regulations and the general structure of the outside world are also taken into consideration. These factors can directly affect the requirements and design of the system.

Context Level creates a guide at the beginning of the project by determining the general purpose of the software system and mapping its relationships with the outside world. This phase is vital to clarify the overall goals of the project and understand stakeholders’ expectations. One of the cornerstones of a successful architectural design process, the Context Level is used to provide a common vision to the project team and determines the path to be followed for the rest of the project.

Intended Audience: Everyone, technical and non-technical, inside and outside the software development team.

Containers Level

The containers level determines the technical aspect of the project and reveals on a visual map how the system will work. Designing basic components such as servers, databases and message queues, that is, “containers”, in detail at this level forms the basic infrastructure of the system.

Containers Level aims to determine the physical infrastructure and technologies to be used in the system. Details such as which servers will be used, database management system choices, and messaging protocols are clarified at this level. This is used to clearly communicate to the project team the technical requirements and operating principles of the system. Also at this level, the distribution strategy of the project is also determined. Answers to questions such as whether the system will be built on a cloud-based infrastructure or run on local servers are shaped within the Containers Level. Containers Level also plays a critical role in determining the security measures and performance requirements of the system. Decisions made at this level directly affect the success criteria of the project.

Containers Level directs the technical aspect of the project by determining the operating environment of the software system. This stage plays a critical role in creating the basic infrastructure of the system and effectively using the resources in the physical world. This level, where the basic decisions that move the project forward are taken, ensures that the system is built on a strong and solid foundation.

Intended Audience: Technical people inside and outside the software development team; including software architects, developers, and operations/support staff.

Components Level

This level defines the main components of the software system. Basic building blocks such as modules, classes, and functions are examined in detail at the Components Level. This level guides developers by determining what the basic components that make up the code structure of the project are.

Components Level is also used to reveal the relationships between different components. Issues such as which components will interact with each other and which components are dependent on others are determined at this level. This is important to understand and design the overall operation of the system. This level also plays a critical role in determining the overall design principles of the software. The responsibilities, interfaces and functionality of each component are determined at this stage. This allows developers to write code in a way that meets the established design goals.

Components Level determines the general functioning of the system by examining the functional structure of the software in detail. This level, which forms the basis of the code structure in the project, guides the software development team in understanding the key components in the system and how they interact with each other.

Intended Audience: Software architects and developers.

Code Level

“Code Level”, which is at the lowest level of the software development process, explains in detail the actual code of the software system and how this code works. This level allows developers to understand the internal structure of the software and guides the successful development of the project. This phase focuses on the code of the software and examines how each component in the system is implemented and what programming languages and techniques are used. Code Level, which is of critical importance for developers, provides basic information for writing the code correctly and creating a maintainable structure.

The Code Level reveals in detail the interactions between different components within the system. The functionality of each function, class or module and the integration of this functionality with other components are examined at this stage. This allows developers to understand how the system works and how different components interact with each other. Additionally, Code Level covers issues such as the performance, security and maintainability of the software. Decisions made at this level are aimed at increasing the reliability of the software and adapting to future changes.

As a result, the Code Level goes to the deepest point of the software system and explains the internal structure of the code. This level guides developers on how the code in the project should be written, what design principles should be followed, and provides basic information to ensure the long-term success of the software.

Intended Audience: Software architects and developers.

Advantages of C4 Model

Effectively managing the architectural design during the software development process and creating a common understanding among stakeholders is a critical factor for the success of the project. The C4 Model stands out as a methodology used to visualize software architecture and strengthen communication and offers a number of advantages.

1. Facilitating Communication

The C4 Model facilitates communication by creating a common language between different stakeholders. Understanding the design decisions and architectural concepts involved in the software development process strengthens the interaction between the project team as well as managers, customers, and other stakeholders. In this way, disputes that may arise during the project process are prevented.

2. Managing Complexity

The C4 Model reduces complexity to a manageable level by visualizing the software system at different levels. Context, Containers, Components, and Code levels allow you to visualize the system starting from an overview, gradually adding more detail. This provides a powerful tool for understanding and managing project complexity.

3. Stating Design Decisions

With each level, the C4 Model provides guidance in determining design decisions. While general purposes and relationships are determined at the Context level, technology choices and distribution strategies are discussed at the Containers level. While the Components level determines the functional structure of the software, the Code level explains the actual code of the software in detail. This is important to provide the project team with a consistent design and development process.

4. Adapting to Dynamic Changes

The C4 Model provides an advantage in the evolution of the system and its ability to adapt to changes. Determinations made at each level ensure that the project can easily adapt to future changes. This increases the maintainability of the software and provides flexibility throughout the project’s lifecycle.

5. Improving the Security and Performance of the Software

The C4 Model is effective in determining design decisions to improve the security and performance of software. Analyzes at each level provide guidance on security measures, performance requirements and sustainable design principles. This ensures the long-term success of the software.

Conclusion

Successfully progressing through the software development process requires strong communication and a common understanding among project stakeholders, as well as an effective architectural design. The C4 Model stands out as a powerful tool for managing and visualizing software architecture, with the advantages it provides to meet these needs.

The advantages offered by this methodology contribute significantly to the success of the project. The ability to facilitate communication creates a common language between different stakeholders, enabling the project team to unite around a consistent vision. This increases coordination and cooperation in the project.

The C4 Model’s ability to manage complexity is made possible by visualizing the software system at different levels. The Context, Containers, Components and Code levels allow us to understand the system, starting from an overview and adding more and more detail. This creates a strong foundation for understanding and managing the complex structures of the project.

Its impact on determining design decisions is that each level deals with a specific aspect, thus ensuring the consistency of the overall design of the system. The principles established at each level have a direct impact on the functionality, security and performance of the system. This ensures the long-term success of the software.

The C4 Model’s ability to adapt to dynamic changes provides the flexibility to quickly adapt to project evolution and changing needs. The determinations made at each level enable the project to easily adapt to future changes.

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