This book provides a practical guide to solution architecture — from understanding the role of a solution architect to designing, documenting, and evolving complex systems. Each chapter builds on the previous, walking through the full lifecycle of architectural thinking.
How to read this book
Start at Chapter 1 for a linear walkthrough, or jump to any chapter that matches your current need. Cross-references link related content throughout.
Contents
| # | Chapter | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Solution Architecture | What solution architecture is, why it matters, and the CORE framework |
| 2 | The Solution Architect's Role | Responsibilities, mindsets, career paths, and the first 30 days |
| 3 | Architecture Frameworks | TOGAF, Zachman, SAFe, and lightweight alternatives |
| 4 | Requirements and Stakeholder Management | Gathering, analysing, and prioritising requirements; managing trade-offs |
| 5 | Architecture Patterns and Design | Layered, hexagonal, event-driven, CQRS, SOLID, and ADRs |
| 6 | Cloud and Infrastructure Architecture | Service models, IaC, cost governance, and resilience patterns |
| 7 | Security and Data Architecture | Threat modelling, zero trust, data modelling, and compliance |
| 8 | Integration, APIs, and Microservices | REST, GraphQL, gRPC, event-driven integration, and service decomposition |
| 9 | DevOps and Architecture Documentation | CI/CD pipelines, observability, and keeping documentation alive |
| 10 | Architecture Evaluation and Emerging Trends | ATAM reviews, AI-augmented architecture, platform engineering |