Skip to main content

01: Discovery - Lesson 1: The Architect's Criteria (DDIA)

📋 Scope Verification​

  • Epitome: EPITOME_ROOT_DDIA (The Three-Legged Stool)
  • Concepts:
    1. CON_RELIABILITY (Fault Tolerance)
    2. CON_SCALABILITY (Handling Growth)
    3. CON_MAINTAINABILITY (Ease of Evolution)
    4. CON_DATA_INTENSIVE (The Threshold)

📚 Source Material Deep-Dive​

DDIA (Chapter 1)​

  • Quote 1 (Reliability): "The system should continue to work correctly (performing the correct function at the desired level of performance) even in the face of adversity (hardware or software faults, and even human error)."
  • Quote 2 (Scalability): "Scalability is the term we use to describe a system's ability to cope with increased load."
  • Quote 3 (Maintainability): "Over time, many different people will work on the system... and they should all be able to work on it productively."
  • IFO Candidates:
    • Chaos Monkey (Netflix tool for fault injection)
    • SLA (Service Level Agreement)

Make It Stick (Retrieval)​

  • Quote 1: "Retrieval practice—recalling facts or concepts from memory—is a more effective learning strategy than review by rereading."
  • Quote 2: "The more effortful the retrieval, the stronger the benefit."

🏗️ Architecting the Anchor​

  • Macro Hook:
    • Pain: A system that crashes under load, is riddled with bugs, and takes weeks to add a simple feature.
    • Goal: A system that survives chaos, grows with its users, and is a joy to work on.
  • Shared Analogy: The High-Rise Construction Site.
    • Reliability is the Foundation & Seismic Dampers (must hold even during an earthquake).
    • Scalability is the Modular Floor Addition (can we add 10 floors without the bottom ones crushing?).
    • Maintainability is the Service Shafts & Documentation (can a new plumber find the leak in 20 years?).
    • Data-Intensive is the Building's Utility Load (water, power, sewage throughput).

🗺️ Concept Mapping​

ConceptRole in Epitome (The Stool)Description
ReliabilityThe LegsThe strength to stay standing under stress.
ScalabilityThe Seat SizeThe ability to accommodate more weight (load).
MaintainabilityThe Finish/JoineryThe ease of repair and refinishing over time.
Data-IntensiveThe PurposeWhy we need a heavy-duty stool instead of a plastic chair.