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Software Architectural Patterns — What are They? What are they for? Why Do You Really Need Them?
Putting together new software can be time consuming, complex, and often expensive — and in some cases, even more expensive than it needs to be, because the planning and development stage of the process wasn’t handled well.
Today let’s take a quick look at software architectural patterns — what they are, what they’re used for, and why it’s important that your software has architectural patterns that are clearly defined and work as they’re needed to.
What are architectural patterns for software?
When we’re talking about architectural patterns for software, we’re not talking about the design (which focuses on HOW the software will be built), we’re talking about the actual component parts — what should be included in the software, what is needed, and what must be added.
Software architectural patterns is a term that refers to formats and patterns that are used by different software programs, there are different styles and types, including:
- Data-centric
- Layered
- Object-orientated
- Client-server
- Pipe-filter
- Master-slave
The pattern will define the high-level structure and organisation of the software system, laying out the fundamental components, the interactions of each element, and determining the overall layout of the system / program.
When developing a software product, there are a LOT of elements that need to be covered in order for it to succeed (Ardent have put together a great blog on the topic as well as one on what you need to know about the life cycle of software product development which give deeper insight into what you need to know), and the right pattern is essential.
Why are software architectural patterns used?
These patterns are used for a few different reasons, one being that it offers guidance on how the software or program will function, which impacts decisions regarding scalability, management, and overall performance.
Whether you’re handling a software build yourself, or working with an outsourced engineering team, you need to be sure that your build is the best it can be, both in terms of quality and efficiency. Using software architectural patterns allows for higher levels of quality to be achieved, but still maintains efficiency.
Why do you need to have software architectural patterns defined?
Software architectural patterns aren’t generally a ‘one and done’ action, these designs are often reused and can help to maintain quality and consistency that gives different programs a similar thread that then allows them to be tied together.
You need to define your patterns in order to make your software efficient and effective, and by keeping careful track of what you’re doing, you can utilise the patterns to underpin further development of your digital infrastructure.
The more you can do, with fewer resources and less budget, the better situation you put yourself in — because digital transformation of business is something that isn’t going to go away, and it’s not going to slow down either — and if you’re developing software, it needs to be adaptable, available, and something you can do without breaking the bank.
