The Power of Breadth: Why Software Architects Need a Wide-Ranging Technical Knowledge Base

2: Think like an architect

Jack of all trades or master of one. This is the common tradeoff you hear for software engineering. For software architecture the answer leans more towards jack of all trades.

This post will be the second in a series about the Software Architect’s toolbox, or how to be a software architect. Being a software architect is different than being a developer on a software engineering team. It requires different thinking and skills to be effective. Although, the skillsets are adjacent, there still different.

Make sure you give my last post on Software Architecture a read:

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction

2. Breadth of Knowledge: What It Means and Why It's Important

3. Depth of Knowledge: Its Role and Limitations

4. Striking a Balance: The Importance of Both Breadth and Depth

5. Recommendations for Software Architects

6. Conclusion

The Power of Breadth: Why Software Architects Need a Wide-Ranging Technical Knowledge Base

Introduction

In the world of technology, the term 'software architecture' can carry different meanings for different people. My perspective aligns with the common understanding: software architects are professionals concerned with system-level design, focusing on the structure and blueprint of software. They often find themselves less involved in the implementation phase, and more invested in the overarching design.

Much like traversing a tree data structure, there are two types of knowledge in this domain: breadth and depth. Breadth represents a wide-ranging knowledge base, encompassing numerous areas. It's typically high-level knowledge, as it casts a wide net over a diverse set of subjects. On the other hand, depth signifies a profound understanding of a specific area or tool, akin to casting a smaller but much denser net. Individuals with depth knowledge typically have a deep familiarity with a few tools or areas, right down to the nuts and bolts. Meanwhile, those with breadth knowledge possess a high-level understanding of a multitude of tools or areas.