this post was submitted on 21 Jun 2023
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Does anyone use C4 model for visualizing software architecture (programming.dev)
submitted 1 year ago by canpolat@programming.dev to c/experienced_devs@programming.dev
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We are considering using C4 for our architecture diagrams. Many diagramming tools (including Structurizr which was developed specifically for it) support C4. I wonder if there are others that use it and I would like to hear your experiences.

My initial assessment is as follows:

Pros

  • Diagram as code is a great way to keep things open to change.
  • It allows for better versioning
  • It enforces semantics into the diagrams. Instead of just thinking in terms of boxes and arrows, one need to dig deeper

Cons

  • It has a relative steep learning curve (one needs to study the DSL even though the end result is just boxes and arrows)
  • The tooling is not perfect. One needs to run a docker container to be able to navigate within the diagram (solution: there is also a SaaS offering)
  • Its view of architecture is somewhat limiting. It doesn't seem to be catered for augmenting the diagrams with other forms of diagrams (flowcharts, etc.) or text.
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[–] canpolat@programming.dev 1 points 1 year ago

With Structurizr, you get a site where you can click around to see different levels of the system and different views of of containers, components, etc. Is that also possible with the PlantUML library? Or do you only use it to document one part of the system independent of others? I kind of like the possibility to have the whole system in a single place so that if I change the name of component, it's updated everywhere, but I don't like that it's its own thing separate from the wiki et al.