Architecture-centric software and systems engineering. Fraunhofer ACES: Architecture-Centric Engineering Solutions

Many organizations struggle with the increasing but inherent complexity of their software systems. At the same time, they have to provide more and more functionality and react flexibly to changing requirements. Furthermore, software is often no longer developed by a single team but involves interacting organizations with large teams at multiple sites. Additionally, modern systems do not operate on their own but are strongly interconnected, resulting in software ecosystems. All these factors - if not managed well - bear the risk of entering the market too late, with insufficient quality, or even both. Architecture is the key factor for success in the development and evolution of software systems. Architecture offers abstractions on the key properties, structure, and behavior of software systems and thus imposes order on the inherent complexity. Architecture also connects software systems to development organizations, processes, and other systems.