Changes to a software system are inevitable as there is a variety of reasons why an application needs to be changed. Software architects should expect change and design their software architecture with that in mind.
To create an evolutionary architecture that is capable of adapting to change, software architects should guide architecture modifications to ensure that the characteristics of the architecture and its level of quality remain the same. Fitness functions can be used to help determine whether the architecture continues to achieve the required architectural characteristics.
When changes do need to be made to an application, following practices, such as making incremental changes and ensuring that architectural components are loosely coupled, will help to facilitate making modifications.
In the next chapter, we will take a close look at how to become a better software...
