A common saying among software architects is, “that’s an implementation detail.” Too often, we treat software architecture and implementation as two separate phases, where implementation is only considered after the architecture is defined. In reality, software architecture should be seen as a first draft, with implementation helping to reveal more details and necessary refinements. In this session, Mark Richards discusses how architecture and implementation must be in constant alignment to achieve success. Through real-world examples, he shows how misalignment can cause systems to fail in meeting their goals, and presents techniques and tools to ensure that architecture and implementation remain in sync.

Target Audience: This session is primarily aimed at Software Architects, as it focuses on the critical relationship between architecture and implementation and how to ensure both are aligned for successful system design. Back-end Developers are the secondary audience, as they are often responsible for implementing architectural designs and can benefit from understanding how their work impacts overall system goals. OpsTech Professionals may also find value in this session, as ensuring alignment between architecture and implementation can affect deployment strategies, performance, and system reliability.