What is the software architect role?

Now that we know what software architecture is, the importance and benefits of it, and have an understanding that there are a variety of stakeholders who are affected by it, let's examine the software architect role. What makes someone a software architect? What does it mean to be a software architect?

Certainly, software systems can be developed without a software architect. You may have worked on a project in which no one was playing the software architect role. In some of those cases, the project may have succeeded despite that, or it may have failed because of it.

When no one is specifically given the software architect title, someone on the team may end up making architectural decisions. Such an individual is sometimes called an accidental architect. They haven't been given the title of software architect, but they are performing some of the same duties and making the same types of decision. Occasionally, when there is no software architect, the architectural design results from a collaboration between multiple developers.

The smaller and less complex the software system is, the more you may be able to succeed without a software architect. However, if a project is large in size and/or complexity, you are more likely to need someone to play the formal role of software architect.

Software architects are technical leaders

Software architects are technical leaders of a software project and should be committed to the project no matter what challenges arise. They provide technical guidance to management, customers, and developers. As such, they are often a liaison between technical and non-technical resources.

Although software architects have many responsibilities, foremost among them is being responsible for the technical aspects of software systems. While the software architect collaborates with others, as the technical leader the software architect is ultimately responsible for the software architecture, its design, and the architecture documentation for a software system.

Software architects perform a number of duties

Software architects are required to undertake different types of duties, not all of which are technical. Software architects combine their experience, knowledge, and skills, both technical and non-technical, to fulfill such duties. Software architects will be expected to have a firm grasp of designing software architectures, architecture patterns, and best practices.

Software architects should have the ability to foresee possible issues and design architectures to overcome them. They should be able to mitigate risks and evaluate solutions such that they can select the proper one to resolve a particular problem. While some of the skills and duties of a software architect are similar to what a senior developer might do, it is a very different role. Software architects shoulder a greater amount of responsibility, and there is a larger expectation of what a software architect brings to a project.

Senior developers have a great depth of knowledge regarding the technologies that they use on a project. They are highly proficient in the languages, tools, frameworks, and databases that are used in their software systems. While software architects are expected to have this depth of knowledge as well, they must also possess a wide breadth of knowledge. They need to be familiar with technologies that are not currently being used in the organization so that they can make informed decisions about the design of the architecture.

Ideally, software architects have the breadth of knowledge to be aware of multiple solutions to a problem and understand the trade-offs between them. It can be just as important for a software architect to understand why a particular solution will not work as it is to understand why one will.

Ivory tower software architects

If you find yourself in the role of a software architect, you are going to want to avoid being an ivory tower architect. A software architect who is in an ivory tower refers to one who, either by how they approach their position or because of how an organization works, is isolated from others.

If a software architect is working from an ivory tower, they may be creating an architecture based on a perfect-world environment that really doesn't reflect real scenarios. In addition, they may not be working closely with the developers who will be creating implementations based on the architecture.

The more that a software architect works on their own, isolated from stakeholders and other developers, the more likely they are to be out of touch with the needs of those individuals. As a result, they may be designing software architectures that do not meet the varying needs and requirements of a diverse group of stakeholders.

Software architects should take a more hands-on approach. A software architect's duties should already include involvement in a number of phases in a software life cycle, but being hands-on helps avoid being out of touch. For example, a software architect may do some of the coding with the team in order to stay more involved. Leading by example, such as using your own code to serve as references for others, is one way to take a hands-on approach while also keeping your skills sharpened.

An involved approach will help you keep abreast of what issues and difficulties developers may be facing, and what the architecture may be lacking. Leading from the trenches can be much more effective than leading from an ivory tower, and you are more likely to gain the trust and respect of your teammates. If a software architect is out of touch or misinformed, even if the perception is inaccurate, their effectiveness as a leader will be diminished.

An ivory tower architect might be someone who is viewed as commanding from above. A software architect should use their experience and knowledge to teach others, and not preach. Take opportunities to make your teammates better by teaching, but also look forward to learning from others. Teammates can and will provide valuable and insightful feedback regarding your designs.

An organization should not have processes and/or an organizational hierarchy in place that separate the architect from stakeholders. They should not be separated from the technical implementation because doing so will take the architect away from the technology and skills that made them a good candidate for being a software architect in the first place.

What are software architects expected to know?

Software architects are expected to have skills and knowledge on a variety of topics. This book focuses on many of those topics. They include non-technical duties, such as:

• Providing leadership
• Assisting project management, including cost and effort estimation
• Mentoring team members

• Helping to select team members
• Understanding the business domain
• Participating in gathering and analyzing requirements
• Communicating with a variety of technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Having a vision for future products

Technical topics that software architects should be familiar with include:

• Understanding non-functional requirements and quality attributes
• Being able to effectively design software architectures
• Understanding patterns and best practices for software development
• Having a deep knowledge of software architecture patterns, their pros and cons, and knowing when to choose one over another
• Knowing how to handle cross-cutting concerns
• Ensuring performance and security requirements are met
• Being able to document and review software architectures
• Having an understanding of DevOps and the deployment process
• Knowing how to integrate and work with legacy applications
• Being able to design software architectures that adapt to change and evolve over time

Don't be overwhelmed

If you find yourself in the software architect role for the first time, or if you are joining a team that has been working on an existing software system for some time, it can be natural to feel overwhelmed by all that you do not know. It will take time to wrap your head around everything that you will eventually need to know.

As your experience grows, you'll feel more comfortable when you start on a new project. Just like anything, experience in different situations will make you more comfortable with taking on new challenges. You'll also understand that it will take some time to become acquainted with the business domain, people, processes, technology, details, and intricacies that come with each software system.

Is the software architect role right for you?

If you care about the software that you are working on and all of its stakeholders, including the software's end users and developers, then you care about the important design decisions that go into building the software. Ultimately, that means you care about its architecture. Concerning yourself with the most important decisions can be challenging, but it can be enjoyable and rewarding for that very reason.

Software architects need to communicate with a variety of stakeholders and sometimes serve as a bridge between management, technical staff, and non-technical staff. If this is not something you want to get involved with, being a software architect may not be the best fit for you.

Software architects are passionate about technology. They have a deep understanding of the technologies they are working with and keep those skills fresh by practicing their craft and being involved with projects. They must have a large breadth of knowledge and have a familiarity with technologies that they may not be currently using on a project. It is necessary to keep up with the fast pace of change in areas such as languages, tools, and frameworks. Being aware of a range of technologies will allow you to recommend the best solution to a particular problem.

Software architects should love to learn and play with new technologies because being a software architect requires continuous learning. As someone with a lot of wisdom to share, and who will be a leader on a team, you should enjoy mentoring and teaching others. Making those who work around you better at their jobs is a part of your job.

All software applications have a purpose. Good software architects make every effort to ensure that the software applications they work on serve their purpose as best that they can. If this is something you care about, the software architect role may be right for you.