Why is Documenting Application Architecture Important?
Documenting application architecture is essential to every aspect of software system management, from design, to maintenance, to expansion — even for cybersecurity (demonstrated by the importance of having a good SBOM). Good architecture documentation provides important context that shapes decisions and helps teams work better together.
The biggest challenge in building application architecture documentation is that its development must be an intentional effort. So many of the decisions that go into the creation of a software system take place in casual, interactive contexts that aren’t meant to last, like whiteboard sketches, chats between team members on Slack or email threads, or verbal conversations.
So how do you make sure you’re not losing that important context? Implement the creation of documentation into the design process, and put in the effort to make it detailed, clear, and accessible to your team. To learn more ways to do that, check out our blog on software documentation best practices — but here we’ll focus on one important way: diagramming for documentation.
How Do Diagrams Make Documentation Better?
Diagramming is a key part of application architecture documentation because it provides a way to understand complex systems and processes at a glance, making documentation more readable for all users and more useful for collaborating with non-technical stakeholders.
But in order for your diagrams to truly make an impact, it’s important that the diagrams you use are well-constructed and are the right types for what you need to convey. How do you decide which diagrams to use in your documentation and where to begin?
There are certain diagram types commonly used to visualize application architecture, and these range from more broad to more specific, so they can be used by a wide range of audiences. We will explore a few of those and provide all the resources you’ll need to make your own.
You can follow along with our tutorials to diagram directly alongside your documentation in Confluence — no extra logins, windows, or uploads.
Diagram Your Application Architecture Alongside Your Documentation
Creating diagrams for your documentation has never been easier. With Gliffy, you can create, share, and collaborate on technical diagrams without ever leaving Confluence, helping your team save valuable time and build resources that ensure future work is successful. Not a Confluence user? We’ve still got you covered. Gliffy Online makes it easy and intuitive to draw even the most technical of diagrams and place them wherever you need them. If you haven’t yet, make sure to start your free trial of Gliffy to start building the essential application architecture diagrams and take your documentation to the next level.