Tired of architectural theory that doesn't survive contact with reality? Fed up with the "move fast and break things" hangover? "Thinking About Application Architecture" is your pragmatic, no-nonsense guide to designing server-side applications that are built to last and built to evolve.

This book cuts through the dogma and academic debates to focus on what truly matters: making architectural decisions that are hard to regret. We champion the "Build It Right First" philosophy—not by designing everything upfront, but by creating a simple, clean, and evolvable foundation from Day One.

Using the running case study of "Akṣaya Pātra Stores Online" (a local provision store going digital), we'll journey through the core concepts:

• Foundations: Understand the real difference between architecture and design, how software actually evolves, and how to represent your architecture effectively (using practical tools like C4 and ADRs).
• The Map: Explore the "what"—the established patterns like the Modular Monolith, Microservices, and Event-Driven Architecture, plus essential design topics like DDD and database design.
• The Compass: Master the "why"—the core principles, the critical "-ilities" (Scalability, Resilience, etc.), and the crucial human elements of the architect's role.

Written for experienced developers and senior engineers stepping into architectural roles, this book embraces the Leanpub "Publish Early, Publish Often" philosophy. It's a living document, evolving with your feedback. Forget ivory towers; let's build software that works, endures, and adapts.