Software Engineering Institute

Software architecture has enormous influence on the behavior of a system. For many categories of systems, early architectural decisions can be a greater influence on success than nearly any other factor. After more than twenty years of research and practice, the foundations for software architecture have been established and codified, but challenges remain. Among other trends, increased connectivity, a shift to the cloud and to mobile platforms, and increased operational and market tempos have precipitated the need for changes in architectural practices and decisions. The first talk shares a perspective on the trends influencing the need for change, the related architectural challenges, and the applicable research and practices.