Benjamin Wolf & Dr. Gernot Starke
42 x 2 Canvases Later: Two Years, Two Minds, Many Lessons
#1about 2 minutes
Common challenges in architecture documentation
Many teams struggle with having no documentation, scattered information, or overwhelmingly complex diagrams.
#2about 3 minutes
The origin and power of the canvas model
The Business Model Canvas proved that a structured one-page visual is highly effective for communicating complex ideas.
#3about 2 minutes
From ARC 42 to the Architecture Communication Canvas
The Architecture Communication Canvas evolved from the ARC 42 template to provide a compact, one-page summary of a system's architecture.
#4about 2 minutes
Using a series of canvases for the full story
A sequence of canvases, from business model to tech stack, can tell a complete story from requirements to implementation.
#5about 3 minutes
How different teams use the architecture canvas
The canvas is flexible enough for teams of all sizes, from single-person projects to larger groups, using both digital and physical formats.
#6about 5 minutes
User feedback on the benefits of the canvas
Users report that the canvas enables rapid documentation, reduces unnecessary meetings, and provides a great entry point for junior developers.
#7about 4 minutes
Fostering alignment and documenting microservices
The canvas serves as an anchor for deep technical discussions, helps align newly formed teams, and is ideally suited for documenting microservice architectures.
#8about 3 minutes
Common pitfalls when using the architecture canvas
Avoid common mistakes like creating redundant entries between decisions and technologies or being overly verbose and losing compactness.
#9about 3 minutes
Why certain tools and team dynamics fail
The canvas is ineffective if team members refuse to collaborate or when tools like Confluence break the one-page constraint.
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Matching moments
09:46 MIN
Introducing the Architecture Communication Canvas
Architecture Communication Canvas
21:17 MIN
Team experiences and benefits of using the canvas
Architecture Communication Canvas
17:57 MIN
Real-world examples of the canvas in action
Architecture Communication Canvas
00:09 MIN
Overcoming communication challenges with visual aids
Communicate efficiently with Software Architecture Diagrams
06:36 MIN
A brief overview of the Arc42 documentation template
Architecture Communication Canvas
03:05 MIN
Understanding the canvas pattern for structured visualization
Architecture Communication Canvas
25:07 MIN
Final thoughts on audience-centric documentation and tools
Communicate efficiently with Software Architecture Diagrams
24:49 MIN
Q&A on canvas implementation and maintenance
Architecture Communication Canvas
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