Why Software Design and Architecture is very important

Thorough System Analysis becomes vital to the health of an application, just like any other form of care. Developers need to think about System Architecture and the flow of users from one page to another. Good System Design will save a lot of time when it comes to developing an application.

This depends on the kind of application or System to be made, however, a good System Architecture is one that is not complicated to understand, very user-friendly, and easy to navigate.

When planning  Software Design, think about how the user is going to respond to the design. Ask questions like, is the user going to be receptive to the User Interface (UI), will the user be frustrated when it comes to doing simple things like changing the password.

Of Course, when it comes to changing user passwords should always adhere to the level of security implemented in the System.

Not only should the focus be on the end user, but also on the Developer, think of  Data Structure, and how the File-System is going to be. Ask important questions like, if a Developer is asked to go change the color of a button, will it be easy to find the button hence changing the color?

How long will it take for a Developer to navigate the legacy System and implement new features? How many Functions or Methods should one Class contain? Will, you compile the Class into Namespaces and then eventually compile them into DLL?

Important questions like that bring you to solutions and start to see a clear picture of System Architecture. Below is the example of System Design we will be implementing in this course;

Software design and architecture are critical aspects of developing robust, scalable, and maintainable software applications. Here are some key reasons why software design and architecture are important:

1. Enhances Maintainability: Good software design and architecture make it easier to maintain and update software over time. Well-designed software is modular, with a clear separation of concerns, and follows best practices, making it easier to understand and modify as needed.
   
   This reduces the risk of introducing bugs or errors during maintenance activities and helps ensure that software remains functional and up-to-date.

2. Improves Scalability: Software architecture plays a crucial role in enabling software applications to scale. A well-designed architecture allows for the efficient allocation of resources, such as computing power, memory, and storage, to accommodate growing workloads and increasing user demands.
   
   Scalable software architecture ensures that the application can handle higher levels of traffic, data, and transactions, without sacrificing performance or reliability.

3. Enhances Reusability and Modularity: Good software design and architecture promote code reusability and modularity. Well-designed software components can be reused across different parts of an application or in different applications altogether, reducing the need for redundant code and development efforts. This saves time and effort, promotes consistency, and improves maintainability.

4. Enhances Reliability and Quality: A well-designed software architecture helps ensure that the application is reliable and of high quality. The good architecture incorporates fault tolerance, error handling, and robustness, making the application resilient to failures and errors. It also facilitates effective testing and debugging, leading to higher-quality software with fewer defects and issues.

5. Reduces Complexity: Software design and architecture help manage the complexity of software development. By providing clear organization and structure to the software components, the architecture makes it easier to understand, develop, and maintain complex software systems.
   
   It helps identify dependencies, relationships, and interactions among different components, making the system easier to comprehend and work with.

6. Facilitates Collaboration: Software design and architecture provide a common blueprint and reference point for the development team. A well-defined architecture facilitates communication and collaboration among team members, enabling them to work together more effectively.
   
   It helps establish common design principles, coding standards, and best practices, leading to consistent and coherent development efforts.

7. Enables Technology Adaptation: Software architecture allows for the flexibility to adapt to changing technology landscapes. Well-designed software can be easily extended or modified to incorporate new technologies or meet changing business requirements.
   
   It enables the integration of new libraries, frameworks, or platforms without disrupting the overall system, making it more adaptable to future needs.

In summary, software design and architecture are essential for developing high-quality, maintainable, and scalable software applications.

They help improve reliability, maintainability, scalability, reusability, modularity, and collaboration while reducing complexity and enabling technology adaptation. Investing time and effort in designing and architecting software upfront can save costs and effort in the long run, leading to more successful software projects.