Architecture Patterns

Architecture Patterns

Master proven backend architecture patterns including Clean Architecture, Hexagonal Architecture, and Domain-Driven Design to build maintainable, testable, and scalable systems.

Use this skill when

• Designing new backend systems from scratch
• Refactoring monolithic applications for better maintainability
• Establishing architecture standards for your team
• Migrating from tightly coupled to loosely coupled architectures
• Implementing domain-driven design principles
• Creating testable and mockable codebases
• Planning microservices decomposition

Do not use this skill when

• You only need small, localized refactors
• The system is primarily frontend with no backend architecture changes
• You need implementation details without architectural design

Instructions

1. Clarify domain boundaries, constraints, and scalability targets. 2. Select an architecture pattern that fits the domain complexity. 3. Define module boundaries, interfaces, and dependency rules. 4. Provide migration steps and validation checks. 5. For workflows that must survive failures (payments, order fulfillment, multi-step processes), use durable execution at the infrastructure layer — frameworks like DBOS persist workflow state, providing crash recovery without adding architectural complexity.

Refer to resources/implementation-playbook.md for detailed patterns, checklists, and templates.

Related Skills

Works well with: event-sourcing-architect, saga-orchestration, workflow-automation, dbos-*

Resources

• resources/implementation-playbook.md for detailed patterns, checklists, and templates.

Architecture Patterns Implementation Playbook

This file contains detailed patterns, checklists, and code samples referenced by the skill.

Core Concepts

1. Clean Architecture (Uncle Bob)

Layers (dependency flows inward):

• Entities: Core business models
• Use Cases: Application business rules
• Interface Adapters: Controllers, presenters, gateways
• Frameworks & Drivers: UI, database, external services

Key Principles:

• Dependencies point inward
• Inner layers know nothing about outer layers
• Business logic independent of frameworks
• Testable without UI, database, or external services

2. Hexagonal Architecture (Ports and Adapters)

Components:

• Domain Core: Business logic
• Ports: Interfaces defining interactions
• Adapters: Implementations of ports (database, REST, message queue)

Benefits:

• Swap implementations easily (mock for testing)
• Technology-agnostic core
• Clear separation of concerns

3. Domain-Driven Design (DDD)

Strategic Patterns:

• Bounded Contexts: Separate models for different domains
• Context Mapping: How contexts relate
• Ubiquitous Language: Shared terminology

Tactical Patterns:

• Entities: Objects with identity
• Value Objects: Immutable objects defined by attributes
• Aggregates: Consistency boundaries
• Repositories: Data access abstraction
• Domain Events: Things that happened

Clean Architecture Pattern

Directory Structure

app/
├── domain/           # Entities & business rules
│   ├── entities/
│   │   ├── user.py
│   │   └── order.py
│   ├── value_objects/
│   │   ├── email.py
│   │   └── money.py
│   └── interfaces/   # Abstract interfaces
│       ├── user_repository.py
│       └── payment_gateway.py
├── use_cases/        # Application business rules
│   ├── create_user.py
│   ├── process_order.py
│   └── send_notification.py
├── adapters/         # Interface implementations
│   ├── repositories/
│   │   ├── postgres_user_repository.py
│   │   └── redis_cache_repository.py
│   ├── controllers/
│   │   └── user_controller.py
│   └── gateways/
│       ├── stripe_payment_gateway.py
│       └── sendgrid_email_gateway.py
└── infrastructure/   # Framework & external concerns
    ├── database.py
    ├── config.py
    └── logging.py

Implementation Example

# domain/entities/user.py
from dataclasses import dataclass
from datetime import datetime
from typing import Optional

@dataclass
class User:
    """Core user entity - no framework dependencies."""
    id: str
    email: str
    name: str
    created_at: datetime
    is_active: bool = True

    def deactivate(self):
        """Business rule: deactivating user."""
        self.is_active = False

    def can_place_order(self) -> bool:
        """Business rule: active users can order."""
        return self.is_active

# domain/interfaces/user_repository.py
from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
from typing import Optional, List
from domain.entities.user import User

class IUserRepository(ABC):
    """Port: defines contract, no implementation."""

    @abstractmethod
    async def find_by_id(self, user_id: str) -> Optional[User]:
        pass

    @abstractmethod
    async def find_by_email(self, email: str) -> Optional[User]:
        pass

    @abstractmethod
    async def save(self, user: User) -> User:
        pass

    @abstractmethod
    async def delete(self, user_id: str) -> bool:
        pass

# use_cases/create_user.py
from domain.entities.user import User
from domain.interfaces.user_repository import IUserRepository
from dataclasses import dataclass
from datetime import datetime
import uuid

@dataclass
class CreateUserRequest:
    email: str
    name: str

@dataclass
class CreateUserResponse:
    user: User
    success: bool
    error: Optional[str] = None

class CreateUserUseCase:
    """Use case: orchestrates business logic."""

    def __init__(self, user_repository: IUserRepository):
        self.user_repository = user_repository

    async def execute(self, request: CreateUserRequest) -> CreateUserResponse:
        # Business validation
        existing = await self.user_repository.find_by_email(request.email)
        if existing:
            return CreateUserResponse(
                user=None,
                success=False,
                error="Email already exists"
            )

        # Create entity
        user = User(
            id=str(uuid.uuid4()),
            email=request.email,
            name=request.name,
            created_at=datetime.now(),
            is_active=True
        )

        # Persist
        saved_user = await self.user_repository.save(user)

        return CreateUserResponse(
            user=saved_user,
            success=True
        )

# adapters/repositories/postgres_user_repository.py
from domain.interfaces.user_repository import IUserRepository
from domain.entities.user import User
from typing import Optional
import asyncpg

class PostgresUserRepository(IUserRepository):
    """Adapter: PostgreSQL implementation."""

    def __init__(self, pool: asyncpg.Pool):
        self.pool = pool

    async def find_by_id(self, user_id: str) -> Optional[User]:
        async with self.pool.acquire() as conn:
            row = await conn.fetchrow(
                "SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = $1", user_id
            )
            return self._to_entity(row) if row else None

    async def find_by_email(self, email: str) -> Optional[User]:
        async with self.pool.acquire() as conn:
            row = await conn.fetchrow(
                "SELECT * FROM users WHERE email = $1", email
            )
            return self._to_entity(row) if row else None

    async def save(self, user: User) -> User:
        async with self.pool.acquire() as conn:
            await conn.execute(
                """
                INSERT INTO users (id, email, name, created_at, is_active)
                VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5)
                ON CONFLICT (id) DO UPDATE
                SET email = $2, name = $3, is_active = $5
                """,
                user.id, user.email, user.name, user.created_at, user.is_active
            )
            return user

    async def delete(self, user_id: str) -> bool:
        async with self.pool.acquire() as conn:
            result = await conn.execute(
                "DELETE FROM users WHERE id = $1", user_id
            )
            return result == "DELETE 1"

    def _to_entity(self, row) -> User:
        """Map database row to entity."""
        return User(
            id=row["id"],
            email=row["email"],
            name=row["name"],
            created_at=row["created_at"],
            is_active=row["is_active"]
        )

# adapters/controllers/user_controller.py
from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends, HTTPException
from use_cases.create_user import CreateUserUseCase, CreateUserRequest
from pydantic import BaseModel

router = APIRouter()

class CreateUserDTO(BaseModel):
    email: str
    name: str

@router.post("/users")
async def create_user(
    dto: CreateUserDTO,
    use_case: CreateUserUseCase = Depends(get_create_user_use_case)
):
    """Controller: handles HTTP concerns only."""
    request = CreateUserRequest(email=dto.email, name=dto.name)
    response = await use_case.execute(request)

    if not response.success:
        raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail=response.error)

    return {"user": response.user}

Hexagonal Architecture Pattern

# Core domain (hexagon center)
class OrderService:
    """Domain service - no infrastructure dependencies."""

    def __init__(
        self,
        order_repository: OrderRepositoryPort,
        payment_gateway: PaymentGatewayPort,
        notification_service: NotificationPort
    ):
        self.orders = order_repository
        self.payments = payment_gateway
        self.notifications = notification_service

    async def place_order(self, order: Order) -> OrderResult:
        # Business logic
        if not order.is_valid():
            return OrderResult(success=False, error="Invalid order")

        # Use ports (interfaces)
        payment = await self.payments.charge(
            amount=order.total,
            customer=order.customer_id
        )

        if not payment.success:
            return OrderResult(success=False, error="Payment failed")

        order.mark_as_paid()
        saved_order = await self.orders.save(order)

        await self.notifications.send(
            to=order.customer_email,
            subject="Order confirmed",
            body=f"Order {order.id} confirmed"
        )

        return OrderResult(success=True, order=saved_order)

# Ports (interfaces)
class OrderRepositoryPort(ABC):
    @abstractmethod
    async def save(self, order: Order) -> Order:
        pass

class PaymentGatewayPort(ABC):
    @abstractmethod
    async def charge(self, amount: Money, customer: str) -> PaymentResult:
        pass

class NotificationPort(ABC):
    @abstractmethod
    async def send(self, to: str, subject: str, body: str):
        pass

# Adapters (implementations)
class StripePaymentAdapter(PaymentGatewayPort):
    """Primary adapter: connects to Stripe API."""

    def __init__(self, api_key: str):
        self.stripe = stripe
        self.stripe.api_key = api_key

    async def charge(self, amount: Money, customer: str) -> PaymentResult:
        try:
            charge = self.stripe.Charge.create(
                amount=amount.cents,
                currency=amount.currency,
                customer=customer
            )
            return PaymentResult(success=True, transaction_id=charge.id)
        except stripe.error.CardError as e:
            return PaymentResult(success=False, error=str(e))

class MockPaymentAdapter(PaymentGatewayPort):
    """Test adapter: no external dependencies."""

    async def charge(self, amount: Money, customer: str) -> PaymentResult:
        return PaymentResult(success=True, transaction_id="mock-123")

Domain-Driven Design Pattern

# Value Objects (immutable)
from dataclasses import dataclass
from typing import Optional

@dataclass(frozen=True)
class Email:
    """Value object: validated email."""
    value: str

    def __post_init__(self):
        if "@" not in self.value:
            raise ValueError("Invalid email")

@dataclass(frozen=True)
class Money:
    """Value object: amount with currency."""
    amount: int  # cents
    currency: str

    def add(self, other: "Money") -> "Money":
        if self.currency != other.currency:
            raise ValueError("Currency mismatch")
        return Money(self.amount + other.amount, self.currency)

# Entities (with identity)
class Order:
    """Entity: has identity, mutable state."""

    def __init__(self, id: str, customer: Customer):
        self.id = id
        self.customer = customer
        self.items: List[OrderItem] = []
        self.status = OrderStatus.PENDING
        self._events: List[DomainEvent] = []

    def add_item(self, product: Product, quantity: int):
        """Business logic in entity."""
        item = OrderItem(product, quantity)
        self.items.append(item)
        self._events.append(ItemAddedEvent(self.id, item))

    def total(self) -> Money:
        """Calculated property."""
        return sum(item.subtotal() for item in self.items)

    def submit(self):
        """State transition with business rules."""
        if not self.items:
            raise ValueError("Cannot submit empty order")
        if self.status != OrderStatus.PENDING:
            raise ValueError("Order already submitted")

        self.status = OrderStatus.SUBMITTED
        self._events.append(OrderSubmittedEvent(self.id))

# Aggregates (consistency boundary)
class Customer:
    """Aggregate root: controls access to entities."""

    def __init__(self, id: str, email: Email):
        self.id = id
        self.email = email
        self._addresses: List[Address] = []
        self._orders: List[str] = []  # Order IDs, not full objects

    def add_address(self, address: Address):
        """Aggregate enforces invariants."""
        if len(self._addresses) >= 5:
            raise ValueError("Maximum 5 addresses allowed")
        self._addresses.append(address)

    @property
    def primary_address(self) -> Optional[Address]:
        return next((a for a in self._addresses if a.is_primary), None)

# Domain Events
@dataclass
class OrderSubmittedEvent:
    order_id: str
    occurred_at: datetime = field(default_factory=datetime.now)

# Repository (aggregate persistence)
class OrderRepository:
    """Repository: persist/retrieve aggregates."""

    async def find_by_id(self, order_id: str) -> Optional[Order]:
        """Reconstitute aggregate from storage."""
        pass

    async def save(self, order: Order):
        """Persist aggregate and publish events."""
        await self._persist(order)
        await self._publish_events(order._events)
        order._events.clear()

Resources

• references/clean-architecture-guide.md: Detailed layer breakdown
• references/hexagonal-architecture-guide.md: Ports and adapters patterns
• references/ddd-tactical-patterns.md: Entities, value objects, aggregates
• assets/clean-architecture-template/: Complete project structure
• assets/ddd-examples/: Domain modeling examples

Best Practices

1. Dependency Rule: Dependencies always point inward 2. Interface Segregation: Small, focused interfaces 3. Business Logic in Domain: Keep frameworks out of core 4. Test Independence: Core testable without infrastructure 5. Bounded Contexts: Clear domain boundaries 6. Ubiquitous Language: Consistent terminology 7. Thin Controllers: Delegate to use cases 8. Rich Domain Models: Behavior with data

Common Pitfalls

• Anemic Domain: Entities with only data, no behavior
• Framework Coupling: Business logic depends on frameworks
• Fat Controllers: Business logic in controllers
• Repository Leakage: Exposing ORM objects
• Missing Abstractions: Concrete dependencies in core
• Over-Engineering: Clean architecture for simple CRUD