The C4 model for visualising software architecture
The C4 model for visualising software architecture
About the Book
This book focusses on the visual communication of software architecture, based upon a collection of ideas and techniques that thousands of people across the world have found useful - the C4 model for visualising software architecture.
This book will be retired at the end of 2025, with a new version published via O'Reilly in 2026.
About the Author
Table of Contents
- 1. About the book
- 2. About the author
-
3. We have a failure to communicate
- 3.1 What happened to SSADM, RUP, UML, etc?
- 3.2 A lightweight approach
- 3.3 Draw one or more diagrams
- 3.4 Where do we start?
- 3.5 Some examples
- 3.6 Common problems
- 3.7 The hidden assumptions of diagrams
-
4. A shared vocabulary
- 4.1 Common abstractions over a common notation
- 4.2 Static structure
- 4.3 Components vs code?
- 4.4 Modules and subsystems?
- 4.5 Microservices?
- 4.6 Serverless?
- 4.7 Platforms, frameworks, and libraries?
-
5. The C4 model
- 5.1 Hierarchical maps of your code
-
6. System context diagram
- 6.1 Intent
- 6.2 Content
- 6.3 Motivation
- 6.4 Audience
- 6.5 Recommended?
- 6.6 Example
-
7. Container diagram
- 7.1 Intent
- 7.2 Content
- 7.3 Motivation
- 7.4 Audience
- 7.5 Recommended?
- 7.6 Example
-
8. Component diagram
- 8.1 Intent
- 8.2 Structure
- 8.3 Content
- 8.4 Motivation
- 8.5 Audience
- 8.6 Recommended?
- 8.7 Example
-
9. Code diagram
- 9.1 Intent
- 9.2 Content
- 9.3 Motivation
- 9.4 Audience
- 9.5 Recommended?
- 9.6 Example
-
10. Dynamic diagram
- 10.1 Intent
- 10.2 Content
- 10.3 Motivation
- 10.4 Audience
- 10.5 Recommended?
- 10.6 Example
-
11. Deployment diagram
- 11.1 Intent
- 11.2 Content
- 11.3 Motivation
- 11.4 Audience
- 11.5 Recommended?
- 11.6 Example
-
12. System landscape diagram
- 12.1 Intent
- 12.2 Content
- 12.3 Motivation
- 12.4 Audience
- 12.5 Recommended?
- 12.6 Example
-
13. Notation
- 13.1 Titles
- 13.2 Keys and legends
- 13.3 Elements
- 13.4 Relationships
- 13.5 Layout
- 13.6 Acronyms
- 13.7 Listen for questions
- 14. Summary
-
15. Appendix A: Software architecture diagram review checklist
- 15.1 General
- 15.2 Elements
- 15.3 Relationships
-
16. Appendix B: Financial Risk System
- 16.1 Background
- 16.2 Functional Requirements
- 16.3 Non-functional Requirements
- Notes
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