18.7 Architecture-Centric Approach

18.7 Architecture-Centric Approach

Architecture drives the evolution of the system. Architecture both defines the desired end state and guides you to your goal. Of course, it is almost humorous to have a recommendation to use a component-centric approach directly followed by a recommendation to use an architecture-centric approach. After all, both the Earth and the Sun cannot be at the center of our solar system. However, if we can adjust to the strange gravitational fields generated by a binary system, we can greatly benefit from the extra "light" created by a multicentric approach. Architecture can be used to encourage and enforce a component-centric approach, as demonstrated in Chapter 12. At the same time, the reuse mentality of an component-centric approach is orthogonal to architectural concerns.