The Complete Guide to Becoming a Software Architect from Udemy

Congratulations. You're going to be a Software Architect.

Becoming a Software Architect is the holy grail for almost all developers.

Great salary, working with management, dealing with the up-to-date technologies and patterns, working with variety of projects and teams - all these make the Software Architect one of the most desired positions in the software industry.

But becoming a Software Architect is not easy. There is no academic course for that, and no formal training.

You might assume that being a great developer is enough to become a great Software Architect - but that's not the case.

A great Software Architect employs a mix of great technical skills, the ability to take a high-level look, and great interpersonal skills.

You may find other courses that will teach you programming skills, project management skills and even software design skills. But no course covers all the bases as this one.

Here is what we will discuss in this comprehensive, 115 lectures length, course:

- What is a Software Architect and why you want to become one

- What are the steps you should take in the Architecture Process

- What are System Requirements and why they are so important for the architecture

- A proven, tested way of selecting the technology stack

- How to design the system's components architecture

- What are design patterns and why does it matter

- How to design the overall system architecture

- What is architecture document and why it's so important

- Super important soft skills every architect should possess

- Some advanced architecture patterns you should keep in mind

- And lots more...

But wait, that's not all.

One of the cornerstones of the architect's work is the architecture document. This document contains all the information regarding the architecture designed by the architect, including requirements, technology stack. component's architecture, system architecture and lots more.

Creating the architecture document is a daunting task, that can take months of hard work.

But if you take this course - your life will be much easier.

Towards the end of this course, we'll work together on a real-world case study, one that stems from other projects I've worked on. After discussing the case study, and designing its architecture, you'll have an opportunity to download a real-world, full blown architecture document, complete with all the information related to the case study. In fact, this is an industry-grade document, which I used in dozens of systems I've worked on.

And the best part? It's yours to use. Feel free to take this document, modify the parts that are relevant to your project, and submit it to your client.

Again - you're going to give your client a professional looking, modern, methodical document that covers all the bases, and makes a great impression.

No other course provides such a document, and that's because I'm fully confident in the document's contribution to your work and reputation, as I used it extensively in the past years.

What do my students have to say about the course?

"well done - The course was very practical" - Sam

"Good explanation on the topics covered, "Soft Skills" section is a great addition of topics" - Sergio

"[The course] given me the confidence to go out to the market and advertise myself as such [an Architect]" - Mathew

And lots more...

Who is this course for?

Actually, any person who is involved in software development, even system analyst, can profit from this course.

However, the best candidate for this course is a developer with some experience, preferably 2 years. This experience will help mainly in understanding the terminology used in this course.

If you're not sure if this course is for you - drop me a note.

About Me

I've been a Software Architect for more than 17 years, working with a variety of clients - Fortune 100 enterprises, start-ups, govt. entities, defense, telco, banking, and lots more.

I'm an avid speaker and trainer, having trained thousands of students in various courses in the past.

I love what I do, and my greatest passion (well, besides my family...) is designing modern, practical, and reliable systems for my clients.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Practical, proven techniques to becoming a great software architect.
The exact role of the software architect
Adopting software architect's mindset
Architectural patterns used in almost any software system

Design patterns to make the code more readable and easy to maintain
Crucial soft skills that will make your work much easier
Role and structure of the architecture document
Advanced architectural patterns for extreme cases

Practical, proven techniques to becoming a great software architect.
The exact role of the software architect
Adopting software architect's mindset
Architectural patterns used in almost any software system
Design patterns to make the code more readable and easy to maintain
Crucial soft skills that will make your work much easier
Role and structure of the architecture document
Advanced architectural patterns for extreme cases

Syllabus

Welcome

Introduction

Join The Software Architects Discussions Facebook Group

Who Is This Course For?

Why You Should Become a Software Architect

An Update for Udemy Students

What We Will Talk About in This Course

What Is a Software Architect

Types of Architects

Responsibility of the Architect

The Architect in the Organizational Chart

Architects & Code

Architects and Academic Degrees

Career Path to Architect

In this quiz you'll have the opportunity to make sure you can fully describe what is, in fact, a Software Architect.

The Architect's Mindset

Introduction to the Architect's Mindset

Understand the Business

Define the System's Goals

Work for Your Client's Clients

Talk to the Right People with the Right Language

As we learned in this section, good architects must adopt a mindset that will help them working with their clients.

This quiz will help you fine tune your mindset, and help you in your path to become an architect.

The Architecture Process

Understand the System Requirements

Understand the Non-Functional Requirements

Map the Components

Select Technology Stack

Design the Architecture

Write the Architecture Document

Support the Team

Conclusion

Types of Applications

Let's see how fluent you are in the architecture process.

Remember - following this process will greatly help you in crafting your architecture to best fit the system you work on.

Working with System Requirements

Introduction to Requirements

The Two Types of Requirements

Architects & Functional Requirements

Non-Functional Requirements

Who Defines Non-Functional Requirements?

Let's see how good you are in describing Functional & Non-Functional Requirements.

Introduction to Application Types

Web Apps

Web API

Mobile

Console

Service

Desktop

Summary

Test your knowledge: Application Types

Selecting Technology Stack

Introduction to Technology Stack

Considerations for Technology Stack

Back End Technology

An Update on .NET Core State

Front End Technology

Data Store Technology

Test your knowledge: Technology Stack

Meet the *-ilities

Introduction to the *-ilities

Scalability

Manageability

Modularity

Extensibility

Testability

Test your knowledge: The *-ilities

Components' Architecture

Introduction to Components

Layers

Interfaces

SOLID

Naming Conventions

Exception Handling

Logging

Test your knowledge: Components

Design Patterns 101

Introduction to Design Patterns

The Factory Pattern

The Repository Pattern

The Façade Pattern

The Command Pattern

Test your knowledge: Design Patterns

System Architecture

Introduction to System Architecture

Loose Coupling

Stateless

Caching

Messaging

Logging & Monitoring

Test your knowledge: System Architecture

External Considerations

Introduction to External Considerations

Deadline

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides a comprehensive overview of the software architect role, which is often seen as a desirable career advancement for experienced developers

Covers both technical and soft skills, which are essential for software architects but often overlooked in traditional development training

Includes a real-world case study and a downloadable architecture document, which offers practical experience and a valuable resource for immediate application

Explores various architectural patterns and design patterns, which are crucial for creating maintainable and scalable software systems

Requires at least two years of experience, which may exclude junior developers or those new to the field from fully grasping the concepts

Includes quizzes to test knowledge, which may not be suitable for learners who prefer a more hands-on or project-based approach to learning

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The Complete Guide to Becoming a Software Architect with these activities:

Review SOLID Principles

Show steps

Reinforce your understanding of SOLID principles to improve component design skills, a crucial aspect of software architecture.

Browse courses on SOLID Principles

Show steps

Read articles and blog posts about each SOLID principle.
Review code examples demonstrating SOLID principles.
Identify SOLID violations in existing code and refactor.

Review 'Clean Architecture' by Robert C. Martin

Show steps

Deepen your understanding of architectural patterns and design principles by studying a seminal work in the field.

View Clean Architecture on Amazon

Show steps

Read the book cover to cover.
Take notes on key concepts and principles.
Relate the book's concepts to the course material.

Review 'Software Architecture in Practice'

Show steps

Gain a deeper understanding of software architecture principles and practices through a widely respected book in the field.

View Software Architecture in Practice (SEI Series... on Amazon

Show steps

Read the book and highlight key concepts.
Summarize each chapter's main points.
Discuss the book's concepts with other students.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Create a Presentation on Architectural Patterns

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Solidify your knowledge of architectural patterns by creating a presentation that explains different patterns and their use cases.

Show steps

Research different architectural patterns (e.g., microservices, layered architecture).
Prepare slides explaining each pattern, including diagrams.
Practice presenting the material to a friend or colleague.

Follow Tutorials on Microservices Architecture

Show steps

Enhance your understanding of microservices architecture, a popular architectural pattern, by following online tutorials and implementing a simple microservices-based application.

Show steps

Find tutorials on building microservices with a specific technology (e.g., Spring Boot, Docker).
Follow the tutorials to create a simple microservices application.
Experiment with different microservices patterns (e.g., API gateway, service discovery).

Design a Scalable Web Application Architecture

Show steps

Apply the course's teachings by designing the architecture for a scalable web application, focusing on technology stack selection, component architecture, and system architecture.

Show steps

Define the system requirements and non-functional requirements.
Select the appropriate technology stack.
Design the component architecture, considering layers and interfaces.
Design the overall system architecture, focusing on loose coupling and statelessness.

Draft an Architecture Document for a Sample Project

Show steps

Practice creating an architecture document, a key deliverable for a software architect, by drafting one for a sample project.

Show steps

Choose a sample project (e.g., e-commerce platform, social media app).
Define the project's requirements and goals.
Document the architecture, including technology stack, components, and system design.

Career center

Learners who complete The Complete Guide to Becoming a Software Architect will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Software Architect

A Software Architect is responsible for the high-level design of software systems. This course provides a thorough overview of the architecture process, system requirements, technology stack selection, and component design which are all integral parts of a Software Architect's role. The course also delves into essential soft skills and the creation of crucial architecture documents. By completing this course, aspiring Software Architects learn practical techniques, gain a deeper understanding of architectural patterns and receive a real-world template document. This will benefit those looking to advance in the field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Architect

Lead Software Engineer

A Lead Software Engineer often guides technical direction and works closely with architects, making this course a strong fit for those looking to advance. This course covers understanding system requirements, choosing the appropriate technology stack, and designing component and overall system architecture. Lead Software Engineers need to understand these concepts in order to guide their teams. The course's emphasis on practical techniques and the inclusion of a real-world architecture document would be especially useful for a Lead Software Engineer who wishes to grow their expertise in system design and planning.

See salaries and explore the career path for Lead Software Engineer

Technical Lead

Technical Leads need a strong understanding of software architecture to guide their teams effectively. This course helps develop a foundation for this by going over system requirements, technology stack selection, the architecture process, and design patterns. The course provides an in-depth look at system architecture as well as soft skills all of which are very important for a Technical Lead. The real world case study and the provided architecture blueprint will provide a template to adapt to their own projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Lead

Principal Engineer

A Principal Engineer, often at the top of a technical career path, needs a deep understanding of software architecture. This course covers many aspects of the architecture of systems, including system requirements, technology stack selection, and system design. The soft skills and development of architectural documentation, which are covered in this course, are beneficial for a senior Principal Engineer. A Principal Engineer with a background in implementation could use the course to grow their knowledge of planning and design.

See salaries and explore the career path for Principal Engineer

Solution Architect

A Solution Architect designs solutions that meet specific business problems, which involves looking at the overall software architecture. This course can provide a deeper understanding of system requirements, technology stack selection, and the architecture process as discussed in the syllabus. These are all vital for a Solution Architect. The emphasis on creating architecture documents and considering various design patterns is especially relevant to the work of a Solution Architect when presenting designs to stakeholders.

See salaries and explore the career path for Solution Architect

System Designer

System Designers focus on the design and planning of software systems. This course has a strong correlation with their job. It discusses system requirements, the architecture process, design patterns, and the creation of crucial architectural documents. All of this is directly relevant for a System Designer. The real world case study in this course will be beneficial. It can be used as a template and resource in their day to day work.

See salaries and explore the career path for System Designer

Systems Analyst

Systems Analysts benefit from understanding software architecture to better assess system needs and translate them into technical requirements. This course covers key areas such as understanding system requirements, mapping components, and designing the overall system architecture, thus enabling systems analysts to appreciate the architectural implications of their work. The course materials, particularly the sections on requirements and the architecture document, could help a Systems Analyst write more effective specifications for systems development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Analyst

Technical Project Manager

Technical Project Managers manage projects with software architecture components and need to understand these concepts. This course may be useful as it provides an overview of important topics such as system requirements, architecture design, and the role of the architecture document. A Technical Project Manager will benefit from having an understanding of these components, which will allow them to better manage the team. The course emphasizes practical methods, which may be helpful for real world applications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Project Manager

Software Development Manager

While not directly involved in the technical details, a Software Development Manager benefits from understanding the software architecture process. This course will help them to better oversee projects and communicate with the technical teams. The course’s focus on the architect’s role, the design process, and the importance of the architecture document, would be particularly helpful for a Development Manager. A Software Development Manager that has some background in development would benefit the most from this course.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Development Manager

Software Consultant

Software Consultants use their knowledge of software systems to advise clients. This course may be useful in helping Software Consultants understand software architecture on a deeper level. The course covers selecting a technology stack and working with architectural patterns. The practical knowledge from the case study and the provided architecture document could provide Software Consultants with a great resource for their clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Consultant

Enterprise Architect

Enterprise Architects are responsible for aligning technology with business strategy at an organizational level. This course, while not focused on enterprise-level strategy, is a building block in understanding software architecture. Topics such as system requirements, design patterns, and especially the creation of architecture documents, may be useful. An Enterprise Architect needs to understand these to properly engage on a technical level with project teams. The course helps build a foundation for that understanding.

See salaries and explore the career path for Enterprise Architect

Software Developer

Software Developers can grow their skill set with an understanding of software architecture concepts. This course may be useful as it provides a big picture view of architecture, covering system requirements, design patterns, and technology stack selection. Software developers will learn how their specific coding tasks fit into the larger system design, which will allow for more seamless collaboration with other team members. This course is a good step for the Software Developer to move toward systems design.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Developer

Software Engineering Director

A Software Engineering Director is responsible for managing and guiding software engineering teams. As part of this, the Software Engineering Director needs a conceptual understanding of software architecture. This course may be useful by introducing the architecture process. This course covers topics like system requirements, design patterns, and the creation of architectural documents. The course may allow Directors to better support their teams' technical direction, as well as to make well-informed decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineering Director

Project Manager

A Project Manager responsible for software projects will benefit from a general understanding of software architecture. This course may be useful to learn about the architecture process, system requirements, and the role of the architecture document. This course presents key concepts at a high level which would be useful to a Project Manager working on projects with technical architecture components. As a project manager is often the main point of contact with stakeholders, understanding the technical side of development is advantageous.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Chief Technology Officer

A Chief Technology Officer needs a strong understanding of the technology landscape, including software architecture. While this course does not cover all the nuances of the CTO role, exposure to the concepts within will be beneficial. This course’s introduction to system and component design may be useful for understanding how software is constructed, which will help a CTO set the technical vision for their organization. The CTO will also benefit from learning the soft skills required of the architect.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Technology Officer

The Complete Guide to Becoming a Software Architect

What's inside

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Syllabus

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Activities

Career center

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