Exactprep CPSA-FL Questions

The aspects that are more of a domain-related nature and those that are more of a technical nature are as follows:

• More technical:
• More domain-related:

In software architecture, aspects can be categorized based on their relevance to the domain (the problem space) or the technology (the solution space). Here’s an explanation of each:

• More Technical:
• More Domain-Related:

These distinctions are important for architects to consider when making design decisions, ensuring that both technical and domain-related aspects are adequately addressed.

References:

• Rozanski, N., & Woods, E. (2011). Software Systems Architecture: Working With Stakeholders Using Viewpoints and Perspectives. Addison-Wesley Professional.
• Fowler, M. (2002). Patterns of Enterprise Application Architecture. Addison-Wesley.

A) FalseB) TrueC) True

In a system with a multitude of class dependencies, the following measures can be considered:

A) The dependencies between classes are the responsibility of the developers. No measures are required within the architecture: This is false. While developers do manage day-to-day class dependencies, architectural measures are necessary to address systemic issues in a mature system1.

B) Loosening of direct dependencies between classes through the introduction of interfaces: This is true. Introducing interfaces can decouple classes and allow for more flexible and maintainable code1.

C) Loosening of direct dependencies between classes through the introduction of factories: This is also true. Factories can provide a way to create instances of classes without specifying the exact class, thus reducing dependencies1.

These measures align with the iSAQB® SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE – FOUNDATION LEVEL guidelines, which suggest that managing dependencies is crucial for maintaining and extending systems effectively1.

For a building block, the characteristics visible only in the whitebox view are:

• Code structure of the building block (D)
• Algorithms used in the building block (E)
• Implementation details for the security requirements of the building blocks (G)

The blackbox view suffices for:

• Public interfaces of the building block (A)
• Test coverage based on unit tests for sub building blocks contained in the building block (B)
• Test coverage based on integration tests ©
• Security requirements of the building blocks (F)

In software architecture, the whitebox view reveals the internal workings of a building block, including its code structure, algorithms, and specific implementation details1. This view is essential when the internal structure and behavior of the component need to be understood or modified.

On the other hand, the blackbox view treats the building block as an opaque entity, focusing on its exposed interfaces and observable behaviors without revealing its internal structure2. This view is sufficient for understanding what the building block does from an external perspective, such as its public interfaces and how well it performs its functions as determined by testing.

Here’s a breakdown of the characteristics:

• Whitebox View:
• Blackbox View:

References:

• arc42 Documentation on Building Block View1.
• Stack Overflow discussion on the difference between black box and white box in component diagrams2.
• Flylib Section on Black-Box and White-Box Component Views3.

Documenting the right views in software architecture is crucial for addressing different stakeholder concerns and ensuring the architecture is comprehensible and manageable.

• A: Deployment view illustrates the physical deployment of software on hardware and is essential for understanding how different parts of the system are distributed across platforms and environments.
• C: Runtime view shows how various components of the system interact at runtime, which is vital for understanding system behavior and performance under different operational conditions.
• H: Building-block view (also known as the module view) describes the static organization of the software in modules or components, including their responsibilities and relationships. This view is foundational for developers and maintainers.

References: