Architect Interview Preparation

Question 1

What is architecture?

[2]

Answer 1

• Architecture is a set of structuring principles that enables a system to be comprised of a set of simpler systems each with its own local context that is independent of but not inconsistent with the context of the larger system as a whole
• You create an architecture to describe the structure of the system to be built and how that structure supports the business and service-level requirements

Question 2

What does it mean to create an architecture?

Answer 2

It means that you have created a software infrastructure that addresses the service level requirements that have been identified for the system.

Question 3

When does the creation of an architecture stop and the design process begins?

Answer 3

Architecture defines what is going to be built, and design outlines how you will build it.

Question 4

What kind of decisions does an architect face? (Examples)

Answer 4

• How do you support scalability?
• How to create architecture without funds to buy new software products?
• What kind of database should the system use?
• Which vendor do you choose and why?

Question 5

What should an architect document?

Answer 5

• each decision made regarding the architecture of the system
• why decisions were made
• why you choose a vendor instead of the other

t
* rade-offs of the decisions

Question 6

What are the characteristics of a good architect?

[3]

Answer 6

• must have at least a general understanding of competing technologies to make informed decisions
• evaluates all possible solutions to a problem regardless of the technology being used
• well rounded, experienced, educated, learns quickly, communicates well, makes difficult decisions when necessary

Question 7

How is an architect different from a senior developer?

Answer 7

• the designer is concerned with what happens when a user presses a button, an architect is concerned what happens when ten thousand users press a button
• an architect must lead the development team to ensure that the designers and developers build the system according to the architecture

Question 8

What is the role of the architect?

Answer 8

• The role of the architect is to make the designers and developers productive as quickly as possible.
• The role of the architect is to make the development team productive as soon as possible by communicating the essential structure of the system.

Question 9

List of Service Level Agreements

Answer 9

• Performance
• Scalability
• Reliability
• Availability
• Extensibility
• Maintainability
• Manageability
• Security