Architecture Patterns: Complete Guide to Architecture Decisions

All patterns, examples, and decision frameworks for choosing and implementing application architecture. Self-contained guide combining architecture patterns, confusion resolution, bridge concepts, and framework-specific rules.

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Table of Contents

• Overview

• When Architecture Matters

• Architecture Pattern Decision Matrix

  • The Architecture Roast - Pattern Reality Check

  • Architecture Pattern by Project Stage

• Domain-Driven Architecture Patterns

  • SaaS Application Pattern

  • E-commerce Application Pattern

• Data Architecture Patterns

  • Single Database Pattern

  • Database-Per-Service Pattern

  • CQRS Pattern

• API Architecture Patterns

  • RESTful API Pattern

  • GraphQL API Pattern

  • Event-Driven Architecture

• Frontend Architecture Patterns

  • Component-Based Architecture

  • Feature-Based Architecture

  • Module Federation

• Deployment Architecture Patterns

  • Single Server Deployment

  • Multi-Environment Deployment

  • Microservices Deployment

• Understanding Two-Server Architecture

  • Mental Model vs Reality

  • Request Flow Analysis

  • Development Workflow

• Bridge Concepts: From Simple to Complex

  • From Static to Dynamic

  • From Working App to Framework Selection

  • From Basic Organization to Architecture Patterns

  • From Working Database to Architecture Decisions

• Framework-Specific Patterns

  • Next.js + Supabase Patterns

  • Flask + PostgreSQL Patterns

  • Node.js + Express Patterns

• AI Integration Rules

  • Next.js + Supabase AI Rules

  • Flask + PostgreSQL AI Rules

  • Node.js + Express AI Rules

• Common Mistakes

• Success Criteria

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Overview

This guide helps you make architecture decisions for production applications. Use it when designing system architecture, dealing with current architectural problems, setting up AI workflows for architecturally sound code generation, or making architecture decisions for growing teams.

Don’t use this guide if:

• You’re building a simple app with basic CRUD operations

• You’re over-architecting a small personal project

• You’re learning to organize code for the first time

Good architecture solves specific problems, not theoretical ones. Start with simple patterns, identify real limitations, then add architectural complexity only when needed.

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When Architecture Matters

Architecture Choice Doesn’t Matter When:

• Learning projects or following tutorials

• Building simple apps with basic features

• You’re comfortable with your current tools

• Everything works fast and reliably

Architecture Choice Starts Mattering When:

• Your current tools are limiting what you can build

• Performance or scaling becomes important

• Development feels frustrating or slow

• You’re building something substantially different from previous projects

• Your single codebase has 50,000+ lines and nobody understands it all

• Every deployment risks breaking unrelated features

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Architecture Pattern Decision Matrix

The Architecture Roast - Pattern Reality Check