Code Archaeology

Jun 15, 2026 · Fundamentals

Architecture Quantum: Defining the Scope of Architectural Characteristics in Distributed Systems

This article introduces architecture quantum as the boundary for architectural characteristics, explaining why system-level assumptions fail in microservices. It details four coupling types — semantic, implementation, static, and dynamic — and defines architecture quantum by four properties: independent deployability, high functional cohesion, low external static coupling, and synchronous communication, guiding architectural style selection.