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Quick Evaluation of a Software Architecture Using the Decision-Centric Architecture Review Method: An Experience Report

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Software Architecture (ECSA 2020)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNPSE,volume 12292))

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Abstract

Software architecture evaluations allow systematic checking of software architecture fitness regarding the context and business. However, selecting and using an evaluation method always have some challenges and issues. This article reports an architecture review while developing an innovation projects support platform for a Chilean R&D and engineering institution. We chose DCAR (Decision-Centric Architecture Review) because it has lightweight requirements on documentation and resources, it can evaluate a project already running, and it did not impact a schedule where architecture reviews had not been considered from the start. We describe the review of three accepted and one rejected decisions. Lessons learned and benefits observed include recording decisions’ rationale, visibilization of some technological issues, and rethinking of some previously made architectural decisions. Finally, we recommend making frequent mini-reviews of architecture decisions, to understand the architecture, formalize it with its resulting reports, and raise its visibility in the team itself.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The literature in the software architecture evaluation community use the phrases architecture evaluation and architecture review as synonyms. We will make use of this convention.

  2. 2.

    In spanish: “Sistema de Gestión de Proyectos de Investigación, Innovación y Transferencia Tecnológica”. As of this writing, the system is in production.

  3. 3.

    In spanish: “Proyecto de Mejora Institucional” (PMI) FSM 1402.

  4. 4.

    Adjacent to Valparaíso.

  5. 5.

    Later shortened to one-week.

  6. 6.

    Active Directory: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/active-directory/.

  7. 7.

    Microsoft Azure: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/active-directory/.

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Acknowledgments

This work was partially supported by CCTVal (Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Valparaíso, ANID PIA/APOYO AFB180002), DGIIE-UTFSM, Project InES (PMI FSM 1402), and FONDECYT (grant 1150810). We also thank Rich Hilliard for his helpful comments on an earlier version of this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Informática, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Avenida España 1680, Valparaíso, Chile

    Pablo Cruz, Luis Salinas & Hernán Astudillo

  2. Centro Científico Tecnológico de Valparaíso (CCTVal), Avenida España 1680, Valparaíso, Chile

    Luis Salinas & Hernán Astudillo

Authors
  1. Pablo Cruz
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  2. Luis Salinas
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  3. Hernán Astudillo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pablo Cruz .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Koninklijke Philips N.V., Eindhoven, The Netherlands

    Anton Jansen

  2. VU Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Ivano Malavolta

  3. University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy

    Henry Muccini

  4. Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburg, PA, USA

    Ipek Ozkaya

  5. University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland, Rapperswil, Switzerland

    Olaf Zimmermann

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Cruz, P., Salinas, L., Astudillo, H. (2020). Quick Evaluation of a Software Architecture Using the Decision-Centric Architecture Review Method: An Experience Report. In: Jansen, A., Malavolta, I., Muccini, H., Ozkaya, I., Zimmermann, O. (eds) Software Architecture. ECSA 2020. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 12292. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58923-3_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58923-3_19

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-58922-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-58923-3

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