What is ISO-IEC-IEEE 12220:2017?

ISO-IEC-IEEE 12220:2017, also known as Systems and Software Engineering — Architecture Description, is an international standard that provides guidance on creating architecture descriptions for systems and software. It defines the components and structure of an architecture description and outlines the necessary information that should be included.

The Importance of Architecture Description

An architecture description serves as a blueprint for designing, constructing, and maintaining a system or software. It allows stakeholders to understand and communicate the structure, behavior, and requirements of the system. By providing a comprehensive view of the system's architecture, it enhances collaboration among different teams and ensures consistency throughout the development process.

Components of ISO-IEC-IEEE 12220:2017

The standard consists of several components that guide the creation of architecture descriptions:

Architecture Views: ISO-IEC-IEEE 12220:2017 introduces various architectural views, such as context, deployment, logical, and process views. These views help in capturing different aspects of the system and provide a holistic understanding of its architecture.

Architecture Viewpoints: The standard defines architecture viewpoints, which represent specific concerns and perspectives of stakeholders, such as developers, testers, and project managers. Each viewpoint focuses on a particular aspect and helps in addressing the concerns of relevant stakeholders.

Architecture Languages: ISO-IEC-IEEE 12220:2017 suggests using various architecture languages, like UML (Unified Modeling Language), to describe different aspects of the system's architecture. These languages provide a common vocabulary and precise notation for expressing architectural elements and relationships.

Architecture Framework: The standard introduces an architecture framework that outlines a structured approach to creating and organizing architecture descriptions. It provides guidelines on how to link various views, viewpoints, and languages together to form a cohesive architecture description.

Benefits of ISO-IEC-IEEE 12220:2017

The adoption of ISO-IEC-IEEE 12220:2017 brings several benefits to system and software engineering projects:

Improved Communication: The standard promotes clear and effective communication among stakeholders by providing a common language and structure for discussing architectural concepts and decisions.

Enhanced Understanding: Architecture descriptions created following the standard enhance the understanding of complex systems, enabling better decision-making and problem-solving throughout the project lifecycle.

Increased Reusability: By explicitly documenting the architecture, it becomes easier to identify reusable components and patterns, leading to increased efficiency and reduced development time.

Better Collaboration: ISO-IEC-IEEE 12220:2017 facilitates collaboration among different teams and disciplines involved in a project. It encourages a shared understanding of the architecture and fosters cooperation to achieve project goals.

In conclusion, ISO-IEC-IEEE 12220:2017 provides valuable guidance on creating architecture descriptions for systems and software. By following this international standard, organizations can improve communication, enhance understanding, promote reusability, and foster collaboration, ultimately leading to successful projects.