Software Engineering - what's the difference between architecture and framework?

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what's the difference between architecture and framework?

pennyliang

2005-10-28, 7:58 am

as far as i know, the architecture is the first design result which
should consider some functions and properties of quality,sometimes
enviroment of the software,while framework is focus on domain-specificated
application which is something general to a certain domain.

could i have such a conclusion,if i do something first,it's
architecture,if i do it again it called repeated labour,if i do it thirdly
then i could conside to make it a common framework?

thank u for your answer.

H. S. Lahman

2005-10-28, 6:59 pm

Responding to Pennyliang...

> as far as i know, the architecture is the first design result which
> should consider some functions and properties of quality,sometimes
> enviroment of the software,while framework is focus on domain-specificated
> application which is something general to a certain domain.
>
> could i have such a conclusion,if i do something first,it's
> architecture,if i do it again it called repeated labour,if i do it thirdly
> then i could conside to make it a common framework?

Alas, both words are heavily overloaded in the software industry.
Basically the definition depends on which tool vendor one is talking to.
for example, the Computer Desktop Encyclopedia defines the terms as:

architecture: The set of protocols for communicating with another
application.

framework: the set of building blocks for constructing an application.

I don't like either of those definitions because they don't agree with
what Daddy told me many moons ago as I sat on his knee. FWIW, I prefer
the definitions:

architecture: The strategy and/or infrastructure for accomplishing some
specific goal that defines or supports cooperation among multiple
distinct software elements.

framework: An infrastructure that acts as a generic skeleton for
combining customized software elements. Generally a framework can be
reused for multiple applications or systems of applications.

Since both can be infrastructures, in my view the distinction is
primarily about reuse. Architectures are usually focused on specific
problem contexts while frameworks are designed to be used in entirely
different problem contexts.

*************
There is nothing wrong with me that could
not be cured by a capful of Drano.

H. S. Lahman
hsl@pathfindermda.com
Pathfinder Solutions -- Put MDA to Work
http://www.pathfindermda.com
blog: http://pathfinderpeople.blogs.com/hslahman
(888)OOA-PATH

Kallol Borah

2005-10-29, 7:01 pm

Architecture is defining a strategy to meet a set of design objectives
and identifying a set of components and their compositions that satisfy
those objectives.

Frameworks are architecture independent. You can do architecture for an
application, not a framework. Frameworks are factored out logic that
are reusable across architectures.

Cristiano Sadun

2005-11-02, 7:57 am

<daily venting>
(Software) "architecture" has become an overused word which has more
meanings that you can find in the Webster and almost no practical usage
anymore. Beware of anybody who calls himself "software architect" and
or any message containing "architecture" without at least two
paragraphs of qualification.

"Framework" is, in theory, a piece of software that accelerates
development of new functionality by providing out of the box repetitive
or otherwise complex behaviour, simplifying it usage. In practice, it
often is a bunch of crappy idas poorly implemented inflicted on the
unsavy by their unsavy managers - especially when it has the "web"
qualification attached.
</daily venting>

:-P

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