Architectural Runway | Glossary

Definition:

Dean Leffingwell states “The Architectural Runway consists of the existing code, components, and technical infrastructure needed to implement near-term features without excessive redesign and delay.”

The architectural runway is one of the primary tools used to implement the agile architecture strategy, which provides the necessary technical foundation for developing business initiatives and implementing new Features and/or capabilities. Development of new features and capabilities consumes the architectural runway. Enablers support the activities needed to extend the Architectural Runway to provide future business functionality, which includes exploration, infrastructure, compliance and architecture development.

Architectural Runway is the existing technical infrastructure, code, necessary to support the implementation of upcoming features without excessive, delay-inducing, redesign.

Further Reading:

https://www.scaledagileframework.com/architectural-runway/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agile_Architecture
https://www.scaledagileframework.com/enablers/

Change Vector Tracking | Glossary

Definition:

Change Vector Tracking is a reflective approach towards desigining large scale software, a software engineering practice to achieve a high level of software design agility. This practice is iterative and reflective in nature and can be used to evaluate different design options with respect to the most important nonfunctional requirement.

Change in business requirements is the only constant in software development process. The key philosophy behind Change Vector Tracking is to identify and model this change as a vector and track it to make good refactoring decisions. The resulting software is less rigid and less fragile thus leading to lesser maintenance cost. This practice aids in Emergent design and is more suited for teams who have embraced Agile Software Development frameworks.

Further Reading:

https://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=3172888
http://www.agilegurugram.com/2016/assets/download/Presentation/RanjithThariyal_Change_Vector_Tracking_GSG.pdf