SIP-040 — Representation-Independent Architectural Constructs

Go to Annex C: Requirements

The architectural model SHALL define its constructs, roles, relationships, and Governance mechanisms independently of any particular modeling syntax or diagrammatic representation.

The meaning of an architectural construct should be established by its definition, properties, relationships, constraints, and behavior rather than by the graphical symbol or textual syntax used to represent it.

Representation independence allows the architectural model to be expressed, exchanged, transformed, and implemented using different conforming modeling environments while preserving its normative meaning.

A conforming Submission demonstrates that:

1. Each architectural construct has a representation-independent definition
2. Roles and responsibilities are defined independently of graphical symbols
3. Relationships include defined meanings and constraints
4. Governance mechanisms are specified independently of a particular diagram type
5. Graphical and textual representations preserve consistent architectural meaning
6. Representation-specific conventions are distinguished from normative architectural semantics
7. Transformation into an alternative representation does not alter the meaning of the architectural model

Representation independence does not prohibit the adopted specification from selecting normative textual or graphical representations. It requires the architectural meaning to remain distinguishable from the syntax or graphical conventions used to communicate that meaning.

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