Fundamentals of Software Architecture: A Modern Engineering Approach

by Mark Richards, Neal Ford

Overview

Salary surveys worldwide regularly place software architect in the top 10 best jobs, yet no real guide exists to help developers become architects. Until now. This updated edition provides a comprehensive overview of software architecture's many aspects, with five new chapters covering the latest insights from the field. Aspiring and existing architects alike will examine architectural characteristics, architectural patterns, component determination, diagramming architecture, governance, data, generative AI, team topologies, and many other topics.

Mark Richards and Neal Ford—hands-on practitioners who have taught software architecture classes professionally for years—focus on architecture principles that apply across all technology stacks. You'll explore software architecture in a modern light, taking into account all the innovations of the past decade.

This book examines:

• Architecture styles and patterns: Microservices, modular monoliths, microkernels, layered architectures, and many more
• Components: Identification, coupling, cohesion, partitioning, and granularity
• Soft skills: Effective team management, collaboration, business engagement models, negotiation, presentations, and more
• Modernity: Engineering practices and operational approaches that have changed radically in the past few years, including cloud considerations and generative AI
• Architecture as an engineering discipline: Repeatable results, metrics, and concrete valuations that add rigor to software architecture

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781098175511
Publisher:	O'Reilly Media, Incorporated
Publication date:	04/22/2025
Edition description:	2nd ed.
Pages:	543
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Mark Richards is an experienced hands-on software architect involved in the architecture, design, and implementation of microservices architectures, service-oriented architectures, and distributed systems. He's been in the software industry since 1983 and has significant experience and expertise in application, integration, and enterprise architecture. He's the author of numerous O'Reilly technical books and videos, including Fundamentals of Software Architecture, Software Architecture: The Hard Parts (both with Neal Ford) several books on microservices, the Software Architecture Fundamentals video series, the Enterprise Messaging video series and was a contributing author to 97 Things Every Software Architect Should Know. A speaker and trainer, he's given talks on a variety of enterprise-related technical topics at hundreds of conferences and user groups around the world.

Neal Ford is a director, software architect, and meme wrangler at Thoughtworks, a software company and a community of passionate, purpose-led individuals who think disruptively to deliver technology to address the toughest challenges, all while seeking to revolutionize the IT industry and create positive social change. He's an internationally recognized expert on software development and delivery, especially in the intersection of Agile engineering techniques and software architecture. Neal's authored eight books (and counting), a number of magazine articles, and dozens of video presentations (including a video on improving technical presentations) and spoken at hundreds of developers conferences worldwide. His topics of interest include software architecture, continuous delivery, functional programming, and cutting-edge software innovations. Check out his website, Nealford.com.