designing-architecture

---
name: designing-architecture
description: Designs software architecture and selects appropriate patterns for projects. Use when designing systems, choosing architecture patterns, structuring projects, making technical decisions, or when asked about microservices, monoliths, or architectural approaches.
---

# Designing Architecture

### When to Load

- **Trigger**: System design, module structure, new project scaffolding, choosing architecture patterns
- **Skip**: Simple bug fixes or minor code changes that don't affect architecture

## Architecture Decision Workflow

Copy this checklist and track progress:

```
Architecture Design Progress:
- [ ] Step 1: Understand requirements and constraints
- [ ] Step 2: Assess project size and team capabilities
- [ ] Step 3: Select architecture pattern
- [ ] Step 4: Define directory structure
- [ ] Step 5: Document trade-offs and decision
- [ ] Step 6: Validate against decision framework
```

## Pattern Selection Guide

### By Project Size

| Size              | Recommended Pattern               |
| ----------------- | --------------------------------- |
| Small (<10K LOC)  | Simple MVC/Layered                |
| Medium (10K-100K) | Clean Architecture                |
| Large (>100K)     | Modular Monolith or Microservices |

### By Team Size

| Team      | Recommended                  |
| --------- | ---------------------------- |
| 1-3 devs  | Monolith with clear modules  |
| 4-10 devs | Modular Monolith             |
| 10+ devs  | Microservices (if justified) |

## Common Patterns

### 1. Layered Architecture

```
┌─────────────────────────────┐
│       Presentation          │  ← UI, API Controllers
├─────────────────────────────┤
│       Application           │  ← Use Cases, Services
├─────────────────────────────┤
│         Domain              │  ← Business Logic, Entities
├─────────────────────────────┤
│      Infrastructure         │  ← Database, External APIs
└─────────────────────────────┘
```

**Use when**: Simple CRUD apps, small teams, quick prototypes

### 2. Clean Architecture

```
┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│            Frameworks & Drivers      │
│  ┌─────────────────────────────┐    │
│  │     Interface Adapters       │    │
│  │  ┌─────────────────────┐    │    │
│  │  │   Application       │    │    │
│  │  │  ┌─────────────┐    │    │    │
│  │  │  │   Domain    │    │    │    │
│  │  │  └─────────────┘    │    │    │
│  │  └─────────────────────┘    │    │
│  └─────────────────────────────┘    │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘
```

**Use when**: Complex business logic, long-lived projects, testability is key

### 3. Hexagonal (Ports & Adapters)

```
        ┌──────────┐
        │ HTTP API │
        └────┬─────┘
             │ Port
    ┌────────▼────────┐
    │                 │
    │   Application   │
    │     Core        │
    │                 │
    └────────┬────────┘
             │ Port
        ┌────▼─────┐
        │ Database │
        └──────────┘
```

**Use when**: Need to swap external dependencies, multiple entry points

### 4. Event-Driven Architecture

```
Producer → Event Bus → Consumer
              │
              ├─→ Consumer
              │
              └─→ Consumer
```

**Use when**: Loose coupling needed, async processing, scalability

### 5. CQRS (Command Query Responsibility Segregation)

```
┌─────────────┐      ┌─────────────┐
│  Commands   │      │   Queries   │
│  (Write)    │      │   (Read)    │
└──────┬──────┘      └──────┬──────┘
       │                    │
       ▼                    ▼
  Write Model          Read Model
       │                    │
       └────────┬───────────┘
                ▼
           Event Store
```

**Use when**: Different read/write scaling, complex domains, event sourcing

## Directory Structure Patterns

### Feature-Based (Recommended for medium+)

```
src/
├── features/
│   ├── users/
│   │   ├── api/
│   │   ├── components/
│   │   ├── hooks/
│   │   ├── services/
│   │   └── types/
│   └── orders/
│       ├── api/
│       ├── components/
│       └── ...
├── shared/
│   ├── components/
│   ├── hooks/
│   └── utils/
└── app/
    └── ...
```

### Layer-Based (Simple apps)

```
src/
├── controllers/
├── services/
├── models/
├── repositories/
└── utils/
```

## Decision Framework

When making architectural decisions, evaluate against these criteria:

1. **Simplicity** - Start simple, evolve when needed
2. **Team Skills** - Match architecture to team capabilities
3. **Requirements** - Let business needs drive decisions
4. **Scalability** - Consider growth trajectory
5. **Maintainability** - Optimize for change

## Trade-off Analysis Template

Use this template to document architectural decisions:

```markdown
## Decision: [What we're deciding]

### Context

[Why this decision is needed now]

### Options Considered

1. Option A: [Description]
2. Option B: [Description]

### Trade-offs

| Criteria         | Option A | Option B |
| ---------------- | -------- | -------- |
| Complexity       | Low      | High     |
| Scalability      | Medium   | High     |
| Team familiarity | High     | Low      |

### Decision

We chose [Option] because [reasoning].

### Consequences

- [What this enables]
- [What this constrains]
```

## Validation Checklist

After selecting an architecture, validate against:

```
Architecture Validation:
- [ ] Matches project size and complexity
- [ ] Aligns with team skills and experience
- [ ] Supports current requirements
- [ ] Allows for anticipated growth
- [ ] Dependencies flow inward (core has no external deps)
- [ ] Clear boundaries between modules/layers
- [ ] Testing strategy is feasible
- [ ] Trade-offs are documented
```

If validation fails, reconsider the pattern selection or adjust the implementation approach.