Notes on AI and the craft of architecture
Field notes, practical guides, and perspective on how artificial intelligence is reshaping software architecture and design.
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June 20, 2026
Why AI Will Shift Software Design From Pattern Libraries to Constraint Models
For years, software teams leaned on pattern libraries and reference architectures to speed design work. AI is changing that habit by making constraints more explicit, testable, and central to architecture decisions.
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June 19, 2026
How to Use AI to Map Hidden Service Dependencies Before a Risky Release
Most release failures are not caused by the code you changed. They come from the systems around it. Here is a practical way to use AI to map service dependencies and surface release risk before deployment.
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June 18, 2026
AI Is Turning Software Architecture Into a Live Planning Discipline
Architecture is no longer just a set of early decisions captured in documents. With AI in the loop, it is becoming a live planning discipline that updates as teams learn, ship, and adapt.
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June 17, 2026
How to Use AI to Write Better Interface Contracts Before Teams Start Coding
Many delivery problems start with weak service contracts, not weak code. Here is a practical way to use AI to draft, test, and tighten interface contracts before teams build against them.
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June 16, 2026
How to Use AI to Draft an Architecture Decision Record Set Before the First Sprint
Most teams wait too long to capture architecture decisions. Here is a practical way to use AI to draft a useful ADR set before delivery pressure takes over.
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June 15, 2026
AI as an Architecture Counterexample Engine for System Design
Most architecture failures begin as assumptions nobody challenged. AI can act as a counterexample engine that surfaces the scenarios your first design quietly ignores.
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June 14, 2026
Stop Treating AI Architecture Output as a Diagram Generator
Most teams still use AI in system design as a faster way to produce diagrams. That misses the real opportunity: using AI to expose constraints, test assumptions, and sharpen architectural judgment.
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June 13, 2026
AI Is Reshaping Software Design Through Architecture Memory
The next shift in software architecture is not faster diagramming or better copilots. It is the rise of architecture memory that captures why systems were designed the way they were.
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June 12, 2026
How to Use AI to Create an Architecture Risk Register Before You Start Building
Most teams start coding with known unknowns hiding in plain sight. A simple AI driven risk register can surface architecture threats early and turn concern into concrete action.
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June 11, 2026
How to Use AI to Turn Vague Feature Ideas Into an Architecture Ready Build Plan
Many teams start building from a feature request that is far too fuzzy for confident execution. Here is a practical way to use AI to turn that ambiguity into a plan engineers can actually build from.
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June 10, 2026
Why AI Makes Architectural Tradeoffs Legible Before Teams Commit
Most architecture failures begin as unclear tradeoffs, not bad intent. AI is becoming useful because it can surface competing constraints while there is still time to choose well.
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June 9, 2026
The New Architecture Brief: How AI Is Turning Software Design Into a Continuous Decision Practice
Software architecture is moving away from periodic design ceremonies and toward a living stream of decisions. AI is accelerating that shift by making tradeoffs visible earlier and more often.
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June 8, 2026
How AI Changes Architecture Reviews Before Code Becomes Expensive
AI is reshaping software architecture reviews by making early design critique faster, broader, and more rigorous. The real value appears before implementation locks bad decisions in place.
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