Support Of Relationship Archetypes

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Introduction

Structurizr is a powerful tool for software architecture documentation, allowing users to create and visualize complex systems in a clear and concise manner. Recently, the feature archetypes for relationships was released in version 4.0.0, providing a new level of flexibility and customization for users. In this article, we will explore the support of relationship archetypes in Structurizr, including its benefits, usage, and potential issues.

What are Relationship Archetypes?

Relationship archetypes are a way to globally define and reuse relationships between software systems in a model. This feature allows users to create and manage a set of predefined relationships, which can be applied to multiple systems, reducing the complexity and increasing the consistency of the model. For example, a user can create an archetype for asynchronous communication, such as Kafka, and apply it to multiple systems that use this technology.

Benefits of Relationship Archetypes

The support of relationship archetypes in Structurizr offers several benefits, including:

  • Improved consistency: By defining and reusing relationships, users can ensure that their models are consistent and follow a standard structure.
  • Increased flexibility: Archetypes can be easily modified or extended to accommodate changing requirements or new technologies.
  • Reduced complexity: By reducing the number of relationships in a model, users can simplify their documentation and make it easier to understand.

Example Usage

To demonstrate the usage of relationship archetypes, let's consider an example from the Structurizr documentation. The following code snippet defines two software systems, A and B, and establishes a relationship between them using the HTTPS archetype:

model {
        archetypes {
            sync = -> {
                tags "Synchronous"
            }
            https = --sync-> {
                technology "HTTPS"
            }
        }
        
        a = softwareSystem "A"
        b = softwareSystem "B"
        
        a --https-> b "Makes APIs calls using"
    }

In this example, the https archetype is defined as a variation of the sync archetype, with the additional technology tag "HTTPS". This archetype is then applied to the relationship between software systems A and B.

Potential Issues

While the support of relationship archetypes in Structurizr is a powerful feature, there are some potential issues to be aware of:

  • Validation errors: As mentioned in the original issue report, adding the "sync" archetype can break the validation of the model.
  • Lack of highlighting: The relationship between software systems A and B is not highlighted, making it difficult to distinguish from other relationships in the model.

Conclusion

The support of relationship archetypes in Structurizr is a valuable feature that provides users with a new level of flexibility and customization for their models. By defining and reusing relationships, users can improve the consistency and reduce the complexity of their documentation. However, there are some potential issues to be aware of, including validation errors and lack of highlighting. By understanding these limitations and using the feature effectively, users can maximize the benefits of relationship archetypes in Structurizr.

Future Development

As the Structurizr community continues to and evolve, it is likely that the support of relationship archetypes will be further developed and refined. Users can expect to see new features and improvements, such as:

  • Improved validation: The validation of models with relationship archetypes will be improved to prevent errors and ensure consistency.
  • Enhanced highlighting: The highlighting of relationships will be improved to make them more visible and distinguishable from other elements in the model.
  • New archetype types: New types of archetypes will be introduced, allowing users to define and reuse relationships in even more complex and nuanced ways.

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored the support of relationship archetypes in Structurizr, a powerful tool for software architecture documentation. Relationship archetypes allow users to globally define and reuse relationships between software systems in a model, improving consistency and reducing complexity. In this article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about relationship archetypes in Structurizr.

Q: What are relationship archetypes in Structurizr?

A: Relationship archetypes are a way to globally define and reuse relationships between software systems in a model. This feature allows users to create and manage a set of predefined relationships, which can be applied to multiple systems, reducing the complexity and increasing the consistency of the model.

Q: How do I create a relationship archetype in Structurizr?

A: To create a relationship archetype in Structurizr, you need to define a new archetype in the archetypes section of your model. For example:

model {
        archetypes {
            sync = -> {
                tags "Synchronous"
            }
            https = --sync-> {
                technology "HTTPS"
            }
        }
        
        a = softwareSystem "A"
        b = softwareSystem "B"
        
        a --https-> b "Makes APIs calls using"
    }

In this example, the https archetype is defined as a variation of the sync archetype, with the additional technology tag "HTTPS".

Q: How do I apply a relationship archetype to a software system in Structurizr?

A: To apply a relationship archetype to a software system in Structurizr, you need to use the -- operator to establish a relationship between the software system and the archetype. For example:

model {
        archetypes {
            sync = -> {
                tags "Synchronous"
            }
            https = --sync-> {
                technology "HTTPS"
            }
        }
        
        a = softwareSystem "A"
        b = softwareSystem "B"
        
        a --https-> b "Makes APIs calls using"
    }

In this example, the https archetype is applied to the relationship between software systems A and B.

Q: Can I reuse a relationship archetype in multiple models in Structurizr?

A: Yes, you can reuse a relationship archetype in multiple models in Structurizr. Relationship archetypes are defined globally, so you can use them in any model that references them.

Q: How do I modify or extend a relationship archetype in Structurizr?

A: To modify or extend a relationship archetype in Structurizr, you need to update the definition of the archetype in the archetypes section of your model. For example:

model {
        archetypes {
            sync = -> {
                tags "Synchronous"
                technology "HTTP"
            }
            https = --sync-> {
                technology "HTTPS"
            }
        }
        
        a = softwareSystem "A"
        b = softwareSystem "B"
        
        a --https-> b "Makes APIs calls using"
    }

In this example, the sync archetype is updated to include the technology tag "HTTP".

Q: What are some best practices for using relationship archetypes in Structurizr?

A: Here are some best practices for using relationship archetypes in Structurizr:

  • Use meaningful names: Use descriptive names for your relationship archetypes to make them easy to understand and reuse.
  • Keep it simple: Keep your relationship archetypes simple and focused on a specific relationship or technology.
  • Reuse and extend: Reuse and extend your relationship archetypes to reduce complexity and improve consistency.
  • Document your archetypes: Document your relationship archetypes to make them easy to understand and maintain.

By following these best practices and using relationship archetypes effectively, you can create high-quality, consistent, and effective software architecture documentation with Structurizr.