Was bedeutet lebende Architekturdokumentation?

Lebende Architekturdokumentation wird nicht einmal erstellt und abgelegt. Sie bleibt versionierbar, reviewbar und nah am Entwicklungsprozess.

Wie hilft lebende Architekturdokumentation bei KI-Initiativen?

Generative KI braucht Kontext. Ein C4-/LikeC4-Modell beschreibt Systemgrenzen, Abhängigkeiten und Architekturentscheidungen strukturierter als verteilte Wiki-Seiten

Wie unterscheidet sich Architecture-as-Code von einer klassischer Dokumentation?

Eine klassische Dokumentation ist ein Artefakt neben dem Code – sie veraltet ab dem Moment, in dem sich der Code ändert. Architecture-as-Code lebt im Repository: Diagramme werden aus dem Modell generiert, im Pull Request mit-reviewt und im Continuous Integration mitvalidiert. Was sich im System ändert, ändert sich im Diagramm automatisch.

Braucht doubleSlash ein SpeedScreening Zugriff auf bestehenden Code meiner Software?

Nicht zwingend. Für den Einstieg reicht ein grober Systemüberblick. Ob Code, ADRs oder bestehende Dokumentation sinnvoll sind, klären wir vorab.

Wie unterscheiden sich LikeC4, C4-Modell und arc42 in der Architekturdokumentation?

Das C4-Modell beschreibt Softwarearchitektur in verständlichen Sichten: Systemkontext, Container und Komponenten. LikeC4 macht diese C4-Sichten als Architecture-as-Code nutzbar: Modelle liegen textbasiert im Repository, können automatisch gerendert, versioniert und in Pull Requests oder CI/CD-Prozesse eingebunden werden. So wird Architekturdokumentation stärker automatisiert und bleibt näher an der Entwicklung. arc42 ist ein umfassendes Template für Architekturdokumentation und strukturiert zusätzlich Ziele, Randbedingungen, Risiken und Entscheidungen. Die Ansätze schließen sich nicht aus: arc42 kann den Rahmen geben, C4 die Visualisierung und LikeC4 die automatisierbare Umsetzung im Repository.

What does living architectural documentation mean?

Living architecture documentation is not created and stored once. It remains versionable, reviewable and close to the development process.

How does living architecture documentation help with AI initiatives?

Generative AI needs context. A C4/LikeC4 model describes system boundaries, dependencies and architectural decisions in a more structured way than distributed wiki pages

How does Architecture-as-Code differ from traditional documentation?

Traditional documentation is an artifact alongside the code—it becomes obsolete the moment the code changes. Architecture-as-code lives in the repository: diagrams are generated from the model, reviewed in the pull request and validated in continuous integration. What changes in the system automatically changes in the diagram.

Does doubleSlash need SpeedScreening access to existing code of my software?

Not mandatory. A rough overview of the system is enough to get you started. We will clarify in advance whether code, ADRs or existing documentation are useful.

How do LikeC4, C4 model and arc42 differ in the architecture documentation?

The C4 model describes software architecture in comprehensible views: System context, container and components. LikeC4 makes these C4 views usable as architecture-as-code: models are text-based in the repository, can be automatically rendered, versioned and integrated into pull requests or CI/CD processes. In this way, architecture documentation becomes more automated and remains closer to development. arc42 is a comprehensive template for architecture documentation and also structures objectives, constraints, risks and decisions. The approaches are not mutually exclusive: arc42 can provide the framework, C4 the visualization and LikeC4 the automatable implementation in the repository.

AI-Ready Architecture Documentation

AI readiness

Architectural knowledge that grows with your system

With a speed screening, we make your software architecture visible in 60 minutes and usable as architecture-as-code.

Make an appointment for SpeedScreening

Static diagrams are no longer enough when software systems grow on a daily basis. Teams need architecture documentation that keeps system boundaries, dependencies and decisions up to date. We help you to transform distributed architecture knowledge into a living, reviewable model.

Architecture is not stored, but is automatically continued in the development process.
C4/LikeC4 modeling shows how your system is really connected.
Teams gain context for modernization, reviews and AI-supported development.

Architecture remains usable

Reduce training time for new developers by up to 50% with living architecture documentation

Architectural knowledge is often available, but distributed in wikis, diagrams, code and heads.

The result: teams make decisions based on assumptions. Risks remain unclear. Modernization, audits and AI initiatives start without a reliable architectural context.

Our living architecture documentation based on LikeC4 creates a common, versionable status that teams can continue working with immediately.

Model-based & versionable: System context, building blocks and dependencies are described in a structured manner and changes can be reviewed in a traceable manner.
Decision-oriented: ADRs explain why key architectural decisions were made.
Connectable: Architecture models fit into development, reviews and CI/CD perspectives.
AI-capable: Generative AI is given better context about system boundaries and technical decisions.

Experienceable

Document architectural changes automatically without additional maintenance effort

doubleSlash makes architectural knowledge usable where systems are created: in teams, repositories and reviews.

LikeC4 makes architecture versionable, reviewable and usable for AI. This creates documentation that is not maintained later, but runs with the development.

Explore the architecture-as-code model of a real-world application for digital shareholder meetings:

Click through live here

Mockup: Living Architecture Documentation Overview – doubleSlash — Overview

Mockup: Living Architecture Documentation Moduldesign – doubleSlash — View module design

Mockup: Living Architecture Documentation Deployment View– doubleSlash — Deployment view

Mockup: Living Architecture Documentation – Container View – doubleSlash — Container view Usecase 2

Mockup: Living Architecture Documentation – Container Usecase 1– doubleSlash — Container view Usecase 1

Mockup: Living Architecture Documentation – System Context Diagram – doubleSlash — Representation of system context

Take architectural documentation to the next level with us

SpeedScreening

free of charge

SpeedScreening request

How to start

We look with you at an existing architecture artifact: Sparx model, Confluence page, Visio collection.
You get an initial assessment of how much pain is really involved

You know whether LikeC4 fits your requirements.

60 minutes - Online

AI Architecture Readiness Check

Fixed Price

€ 9,500

Request AI Readiness Check

How to check

Analysis of the current ACTUAL state
Creation of an initial LikeC4 system diagram
Identification of the three biggest gaps to AI readiness.

You will receive an executable LikeC4 repo, an architecture gap report and a roadmap sketch.

2—3 working days
Remote or on-site

Modernization sprints

Starting at

€ 15,000

Determine sprint details together

How to modernize

We integrate LikeC4 into your CI/CD pipeline
Translation of your existing models,
Training of your teams
Setting up the living documentation workflows

Architecture maintenance arrives measurably in your repository.

Implemented in 1-3 sprints

For us, LikeC4 is the standard for modern architecture documentation - traceable, versionable and AI-capable. – Marco Bratz, Expert System Architect & LikeC4 Lead, doubleSlash

Where doubleSlash supports you with architecture decisions

25+ years of experience

100% customer focus

In daily use

Own architecture with LikeC4

FAQs

Frequently asked questions about architecture documentation, architecture-as-code and LikeC4

Get in touch with us

See your architecture live from your repo. In 60 minutes.

Start with the free SpeedScreening: 60 minutes together to look at an existing architecture artifact — Sparx, Confluence, Visio — and assess whether LikeC4 fits your setup. You leave the appointment with an honest recommendation

Architecture documentation
for AI-enabled
software systems

Architectural knowledge that grows with your system

Reduce training time for new developers by up to 50% with living architecture documentation

Document architectural changes automatically without additional maintenance effort

Explore the architecture-as-code model of a real-world application for digital shareholder meetings: