Architectural Patterns and Styles Flashcards

A system must process large volumes of financial transactions in strict sequential order. Which architectural style is most appropriate?

Answer: Pipe-and-Filter with sequential filters

Pipe-and-Filter enforces strict sequential processing by chaining filters, ensuring each transaction passes through every processing stage in order.

Which architectural pattern is best suited for systems that need to support multiple client interfaces (e.g., mobile, web, third-party) each with different data requirements?

Answer: Backend for Frontend (BFF) pattern

BFF provides a dedicated API layer per client type, allowing each interface to receive data shaped to its specific needs without compromising other clients.

In the context of the CPSA framework, which architectural pattern directly supports the 'Open/Closed Principle' by allowing new behavior to be added without modifying the core?

Answer: Plugin / Microkernel Architecture

Microkernel (Plugin) architecture keeps a minimal stable core and allows new features to be added as plugins, so the core remains closed for modification but open for extension.

When evaluating architectural patterns, which ISO 25010 quality attribute does CQRS most directly improve for the read side?

Answer: Performance efficiency (scalability of reads)

CQRS allows the read model to be independently scaled and optimized (e.g., with denormalized read stores) without affecting the write model, directly improving read performance.

A team adopts a 'Modular Monolith' instead of microservices. What is the primary architectural benefit of this choice?

Answer: Strong module boundaries with simpler deployment and operations than distributed services

A modular monolith enforces logical separation through well-defined module interfaces while avoiding the operational overhead of deploying, networking, and monitoring separate services.

Which of the following is a key architectural decision criterion when choosing between Choreography and Orchestration for a saga?

Answer: Orchestration is preferred when visibility into workflow state and centralized error handling are priorities

Orchestration centralizes workflow logic and state in one place, making it easier to observe, debug, and handle failures, while choreography distributes that responsibility across services.

In software architecture documentation, an Architecture Decision Record (ADR) is used to capture which information?

Answer: The context, decision made, and consequences of a significant architectural choice

An ADR records why an architectural decision was made, what alternatives were considered, and what trade-offs were accepted, preserving institutional knowledge for future maintainers.