[1/3] A Prompt Pattern Sequence Approach to Apply Generative AI in Assisting Software Architecture Decision-making (Category Architecture)

In December 2024 year whitepaper The use of Gen AI in architecture. I became interested in this topic and decided to read what the guys came up with. It turned out that this is some kind of co-pilot for architects that helps with the right decisions. To do this, the authors suggest using prompting patterns that are combined into a chain of preparation, analysis and architectural decision-making. The main patterns here are as follows: **- Software architect persona pattern

• Architectural project context pattern
• Quality attribute question pattern
• Technical premises pattern
• Uncertain requirement statement pattern
• Prompt pattern sequence** These patterns were tested by the study authors. 3 The two companies are the real (leading automotive financing bank's technological portal and leading retail pharmacy network) And one of the fictional companies that, according to legend, makes cloud-based CRM.

At the very beginning, the authors describe their approach to describing the above patterns, which are included as standard attributes of the form: Name, Context, Problem, Forces, Solution, Rationale and Consequencesand the extended list

• SpecializesDescribes how the current standard specializes or extends existing standards, clarifying their relationship and adaptation to specific problems or contexts.
• Statement templateProvides a brief description or structured summary of the standard, allowing you to quickly understand its essence.
• Concrete statement example: provides a real-world example of using a description template, demonstrating its application in practice.
• Related patterns: contains information about other patterns related to the current, including dependencies, assumptions and recommendations for sharing (Related Patterns Appendix to Article)
• Usage example: gives a practical example from real life, showing the application of the pattern and its usefulness in a particular situation.
• Known usesPresents historical or current examples of successful implementation of patterns, confirming their effectiveness and providing a link to the completed query for additional details.

The very flow of work with patterns and Gen AI tools, according to the authors of the article, looks like this

1. The architect looks for suitable patterns from the list above
2. Then he applies them to his specific project and receives tips and suggestions.
3. Next, he makes decisions after analyzing the generated clues and his knowledge of the project.

Everything sounds quite clear, but let’s move on to the patterns themselves, and then consider how the authors propose to combine them into a chain of prompts to assist in analyzing the project architecture and making arch decisions. The patterns themselves will be examined in next post.

#Architecture #GenAI #AI #ML #Software #Engineering #SystemDesign #DistributedSystems #Project