What This Document Is
This is the first homework assignment for CSCI 578: Software Architectures, offered at the University of Southern California during the Spring 2024 semester. It’s a practical exercise designed to apply foundational concepts of software architecture to real-world system design. Students are tasked with analyzing and designing an architecture for a complex system, focusing on decomposition, component interaction, and architectural style selection. The assignment centers around choosing *one* of three provided case studies for in-depth analysis.
Why This Document Matters
This assignment is crucial for students learning to translate high-level requirements into concrete architectural blueprints. It’s particularly beneficial for those preparing for roles in software design, systems engineering, or architectural leadership. Successfully completing this assignment demonstrates an understanding of how to balance functional and non-functional requirements, evaluate design tradeoffs, and communicate architectural decisions effectively. It’s best utilized *after* initial lectures on architectural styles, components, and connectors, and serves as a key stepping stone towards more advanced architectural patterns.
Common Limitations or Challenges
This assignment does not provide pre-defined solutions or a single “correct” answer. It requires independent thought, research, and justification of design choices. The assignment focuses on the *process* of architectural design, not on coding or implementation. It also doesn’t offer detailed tutorials on specific diagramming tools, assuming a baseline familiarity with visual representation of systems. Access to the full assignment details is required to understand the specific requirements for each case study.
What This Document Provides
* An overview of the assignment’s objectives and grading criteria.
* Descriptions of three distinct case study options: Big Data, C4, and BOINC.
* Guidance on the expected level of granularity for system decomposition.
* Instructions regarding diagramming conventions and submission requirements.
* A framework for analyzing and comparing different architectural styles.
* Requirements for relating architectural design to specific system requirements.
