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An Introduction to Residuality Theory - Barry O'Reilly - NDC London 2024

Why is software architecture so difficult ?​

TIME, CHANGE, UNCERTAINTY

  • Standard architectural representations(UML, Archimate) has no way to represent
    • Time
    • Change over time
    • Uncertainity about change

What is the unit of SWE ?​

  • Software Machine Punchcard Procedure Module Object Service Function Microservice Process Feature Pattern

None of these capture time, uncertainity or change. This course will introduce a new unit - The residue That has this explicit goal in mind

Order and Disorder​

  • Some systems are ordered :

    • Highly constrained
    • Future states can be predicted
    • They can be tested Have consistent behaviour over testing cycles = Software is ordered

  • Some systems are disordered :

    • Loose constraints
    • Unpredictable
    • Changing pattern or no pattern
    • Human and business systems are disordered