rearchitectuur

Rearchitectuur is the process of altering the software or system's underlying architecture to meet new requirements or improve key quality attributes such as scalability, performance, maintainability, security, and resilience. It is typically undertaken when incremental changes to the existing design are insufficient or when a major shift in technology, platform, or business goals occurs. The aim is not merely to rewrite code but to redesign how components interact, how data is organized, and how the system is deployed and operated.

Common approaches include moving from a monolithic to a microservices or modular architecture, transitioning to cloud-native patterns, introducing event-driven or service-oriented patterns, adopting containers or serverless, and rethinking data architecture (polyglot persistence, data streaming).

Process involves current-state assessment, target-state definition, architecture modeling, and a migration plan. Architects use decision records, architecture views, governance, and frameworks such as TOGAF to guide decisions. Phased implementation, prototyping, and pilot projects are common to reduce risk. Interfacing contracts and API compatibility must be preserved or versioned.

Challenges include complexity, cost, risk of data loss, downtime, skill gaps, integration with legacy systems, and vendor lock-in. Mitigation involves an incremental redesign, automated tests, a comprehensive migration strategy, dependency management, and clear alignment with business goals.

Outcomes typically include improved scalability and resilience, better maintainability, faster delivery, and enhanced security. Metrics often used are system availability, mean time to recovery, deployment frequency, and reduction in technical debt.

In the Dutch IT field, rearchitectuur is often part of broader digital transformation initiatives and cloud-adoption strategies.