Software Engineering Institute

Architecture serves as the blueprint for both the system and the project developing it, defining the work assignments that must be carried out by design and implementation teams. The architecture is the primary carrier of system qualities, such as performance, modifiability, and security, none of which can be achieved without a unifying architectural vision. Architecture is an artifact for early analysis to make sure that the design approach will yield an acceptable system. Architecture holds the key to post-deployment system understanding, maintenance, and mining efforts. In short, architecture is the conceptual glue that holds every phase of the project together for all its many stakeholders.

The SEI compiled this bibliography of publications about software architecture as a resource for information about system architecture throughout its lifecycle. It includes works that provide definitions and general treatment as well as works that cover representation and documentation, evaluation and analysis, architecture-based design and development, Quality Attribute Workshops, the Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method, and Acquisition.