The C4 model for visualising software architecture

by Simon Brown

The book The C4 model for visualising software architecture goes over how we should divide the language we use based on the level of granularity we are trying to explain and that we should never mix those levels in a conversation. By using a common vocabulary we can leave better documentation behind us and improve onboarding. It proposes a starting point of 4 levels: Context, Container, Component and Code but since projects can defer in scope it also provides alternatives.

Genres: Technology, Architecture

ebook

Published February 24, 2023

About the author

Simon is an independent software development consultant specializing in software architecture - specifically technical leadership, communication, and lightweight, pragmatic approaches to software architecture. Simon is the author of "Software Architecture for Developers", a developer-friendly guide to software architecture, technical leadership, the balance with agility and communicating software architecture with sketches, diagrams, and models. He is also the creator of the C4 software architecture model and the founder of Structurizr, a SaaS product to create web-based software architecture diagrams using code.

Reviews

[Jeff Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brief and to the point.
A nicely laid out and explained methodology for using the author's C4 model for creating software and infrastructure diagrams.

[Armando · Rating 5 out of 5]

A refreshing new perspective on software development and how to model.