Documenting Software Architectures: Views and Beyond (2nd Edition) Book Review

This book is the bible of documenting software architectures. It is a mandatory read for all software architects. It should also be read by the various stakeholders who have invested in a software architect so they have some idea about what their investment should be accomplishing. This version includes a lot of new content. It includes new architectural styles for SOA, database models, and multi-tier architectures. The authors have expanded the epilogue which is the comparison of Views and Beyond to other documenting approaches. It now includes comparisons to ISO/IEC 42010 – ANSI/IEEE Std 1471-2000, the RUPs 4+1, Rozanski and Woods Viewpoint Set, agile projects, and DoDAF. The book now includes 3 appendixes. One on UML, SysML, and AADL. Each is an overview of the language. They have improved templates based on experience gained since the first version of the book. The book’s example is now on line. It documents a Web-based service-oriented system. This book shows you how to communicate with your stakeholders and how to address quality attribute requirements like no other book out there. I am not saying it is the best book out there, I am saying it accomplishes what it tries to teach. It creates a view of a great method of documenting architecture. It then provides a cross reference with some other great methods of documenting software architecture in the epilogue I mentioned above. It is a must read for any architect that takes there job serious. It will add a wealth of knowledge to your arsenal of tools.