𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭

The SDLC journey continues! Having mastered WRSPM for requirements, we dive into the design phase, where your software's blueprint springs to life. Here, functionality fuses with structure, turning ideas into a robust system. Let's uncover key design principles to make your software resilient and adaptable:

𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐯𝐬. 𝐋𝐨𝐰-𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧

Imagine a complex building. The high-level design is like the architect's initial sketch – it defines the overall structure, the number of floors, and the general layout. The low-level design dives deeper, focusing on the specifics – electrical wiring, plumbing systems, and the exact type of windows.

Similarly, software design has two levels:

𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻: This focuses on the big picture, like the software's architecture. Architecture defines how different components work together. There are different architectural styles, like layered architecture (separating user interface, business logic, and data access) or microservices architecture (breaking the software down into smaller, independent services).

𝗟𝗼𝘄-𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻: Here, we delve into the details – how data is structured (models) and how the software is broken down into smaller, reusable components (modularity). Think of building blocks – you can swap and replace modules without affecting the entire system, making maintenance and updates easier.

𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲

Breaking the app into independent, reusable modules makes it easier to maintain and update. Think of it like building with Legos – you can swap out pieces without affecting the whole structure. This approach lets developers fix problems faster, add new features more easily, and work together better. Each module can be improved on its own, making the whole app more flexible and scalable. In short, modularity keeps your code organized and efficient, allowing for smoother growth and innovation.

𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

Imagine a team project. If two teammates are constantly dependent on each other, needing to check in and coordinate every step (high coupling), things can get slow and frustrating. But if each teammate excels in their specific tasks and can work independently while still collaborating effectively (high cohesion within their roles and loose coupling between them), the project runs smoothly!

In software design, coupling refers to the interdependence of different parts of the code. Ideally, we want:

𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: Modules (sections of code) should be highly focused and well-organized, with all the parts working together seamlessly towards a specific task

𝗟𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴: Different modules should ideally depend on each other as little as possible. This makes the software more adaptable and easier to maintain. Tightly coupled modules can create a domino effect where changes in one area cause problems in others.

By understanding these design principles, we can create well-structured, maintainable, and scalable software. Future articles will explore the various design principles and how to apply them to real-life projects.

In our next post, we'll look at 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻: 𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲. We'll explore different architectural styles and how they can impact the development process

Do you have any questions about design principles or are curious to learn more about software architecture? Feel free to share them in the comments below!