A solution architecture refers to a plan that proposes how to solve a particular problem using a combination of processes, technologies, and human resources. It encompasses the scope, objectives, requirements, assumptions, constraints, risks, and benefits of the proposed solution. Additionally, it outlines the principles, patterns, standards, and best practices that guide the design and implementation of the solution.
As an example, consider a cloud-based web application that provides online shopping services to customers. The problem that this solution addresses is how to enable customers to securely and reliably browse, search, compare, and purchase products online. The solution architecture for this web application may consist of various components such as a front-end layer, back-end layer, and cloud platform:
- A front-end layer that consists of a web server, a web browser, and a user interface. The web server hosts the web pages and static resources that are delivered to the web browser. The web browser renders the web pages and interacts with the user interface. The user interface provides the functionality and features that allow customers to navigate the website and perform various actions such as adding items to a shopping cart, checking out, or viewing order history.
- A back-end layer that consists of an application server, a database server, and a business logic layer. The application server handles the requests from the web server and communicates with the database server and the business logic layer. The database server stores and retrieves the data related to products, customers, orders, inventory, etc. The business logic layer implements the rules and workflows that govern the core functionality of the web application such as product catalog management, order processing, payment processing, etc.
- A cloud platform that provides the infrastructure and services that support the deployment and operation of the web application. The cloud platform may offer various features such as load balancing, auto-scaling, security, monitoring, backup, etc. The cloud platform may also provide other services that enhance the functionality of the web application such as authentication, notification, analytics, etc.
The solution architecture for this web application may also define the following aspects:
- The scope of the solution in terms of what problems it solves and what features it offers.
- The objectives of the solution in terms of what benefits it delivers and what metrics it uses to measure success.
- The requirements of the solution in terms of what functional and non-functional specifications it must meet.
- The assumptions of the solution in terms of what conditions and dependencies it relies on.
- The constraints of the solution in terms of what limitations and trade-offs it faces.
- The risks of the solution in terms of what challenges and uncertainties it encounters.
- The benefits of the solution in terms of what advantages and opportunities it creates.
The solution architecture for this web application may also follow some architecture principles, patterns, standards, and best practices such as:
- Separation of concerns: dividing the solution into distinct layers and components that have clear responsibilities and interfaces.
- Loose coupling: minimizing the dependencies and interactions between different components to reduce complexity and increase flexibility.
- High cohesion: maximizing the relatedness and consistency within each component to improve clarity and maintainability.
- Modularity: designing each component as a self-contained unit that can be reused and replaced easily.
- Scalability: designing the solution to handle increasing or varying amounts of load without compromising performance or quality.
- Reliability: designing the solution to prevent or recover from failures gracefully without losing data or functionality.
- Security: designing the solution to protect against unauthorized access or misuse of data or functionality.
- Usability: designing the solution to provide a positive and satisfying user experience.
A solution architecture is a crucial document that helps stakeholders understand how a problem can be effectively and efficiently solved. It also aids developers in implementing the solution according to the agreed specifications and standards. It should be clear, concise, consistent, complete, correct, and current and be reviewed and updated regularly to reflect any changes or feedback from stakeholders or developers.