CPSA-FL ISAQB Certified Professional for Software Architecture -Foundation Level Questions and Answers

The correct statements about data structures, specifically stacks, are:A. The push operation usually places a new element onto a stack. - This is the basic operation of a stack data structure, where elements are added to the top of the stack.D. A stack usually only provides access to one element at a time. - In stack terminology, this is known as LIFO (Last In, First Out) behavior, where only the top element is accessible at any time for operations like pop or peek.

Appropriate statements about crosscutting concepts in software architecture include:A. The definition of appropriate concepts ensures the conceptual integrity of the architecture. - Consistent use of concepts across an architecture ensures that the system is cohesive and maintains integrity.B. Concepts are a means to increase consistency. - By defining and following common patterns and strategies, consistency is achieved throughout the system.D. Uniform exception handling is most easily achieved when architects agree with developers upon a suitable concept prior to implementation. - Establishing a common approach to exception handling before development starts can ensure uniformity and reduce errors.G. A concept can define constraints for the implementation of many building blocks. - Concepts often set rules or guidelines that impact how multiple components or building blocks should be implemented, helping to maintain a unified approach to solving architectural problems.

These answers are derived from established principles and patterns in the field of software architecture, focusing on best practices and common methodologies.

The techniques best suited to illustrate the interaction of runtime building blocks are:A. Activity diagrams - Useful for showing the flow of control among various activities and decisions in the system.B. Sequence diagrams - Ideal for depicting the order of messages exchanged between components or objects in a specific scenario.C. State diagram - Shows how a component or an object changes its state in response to events, highlighting dynamic behavior.G. Depiction of screen flows (sequence of user interactions) - Useful for visualizing the sequence of user interactions with the system, which is critical for user-centric design and runtime behavior analysis.

When designing external interfaces, several considerations must be taken into account:A. Volatility of neighbouring systems - Changes in neighboring systems can affect the stability and compatibility of interfaces, requiring interfaces to be adaptable to changes.C. Protocols enforced by neighbouring systems - It's crucial to align with the protocols used by neighboring systems to ensure seamless communication and interoperability.D. Expected amount of parallel calls - This affects the scalability and performance requirements of the interface, as it must be designed to handle the expected load efficiently.

Quality requirements specify the conditions under which a system must operate to meet the needs of its users and stakeholders, focusing on performance, usability, reliability, etc.

• C: Automatic spelling correction is a feature related to the system's usability and accuracy, improving the overall quality of user interaction.
• D: Stating a failure rate of less than 0.1% specifies a reliability target that the system must achieve, making it a quantifiable and critical quality requirement.

In template-based architecture documentation, the most important fields are:A. To describe module structures (white boxes) - This involves detailing the internal structure of modules, which is crucial for understanding how software components are implemented and how they interact internally.B. To describe individual architectural modules and their external interfaces (black boxes) - This focuses on the interfaces and interactions of modules with external components, essential for understanding system integrations and dependencies.D. To use a standardized document structure - Standardization in documentation facilitates consistency, readability, and maintainability of documents, which is critical for long-term project management and new team member onboarding.

Understandability in architecture documentation is crucial as it directly impacts the ease with which the architecture can be reviewed, maintained, and extended. Here’s why the chosen answers are relevant:

• It is an important quality characteristic (C): Understandability ensures that the architecture is accessible not only to the creators but also to other stakeholders like new team members, management, and maintenance personnel. This aids in the effective communication of the architecture’s intent, usage, and functionalities.
• It is a quality characteristic together with simplicity and brevity (E): Simplicity and brevity contribute to making complex systems easier to understand. Concise and straightforward documentation helps in quicker comprehension and reduces ambiguities.
• It is a quality characteristic together with scope and completeness (F): While it is important for the documentation to be comprehensive, it should also clearly define the scope of the system. This helps in setting the right expectations and ensures that the documentation covers all necessary aspects thoroughly, thus enhancing understandability.

References:

• “Documenting Software Architectures: Views and Beyond” by Paul Clements et al. emphasizes the importance of these aspects in effective architecture documentation.
• ISO/IEC 42010 also highlights understandability as a fundamental quality characteristic of architectural descriptions.

A) TrueB) FalseC) TrueD) True

A) The project plan from management is influenced by architectural decisions.

• True. Architectural decisions often have significant implications on the project plan, including timelines, resource allocation, and technical approaches1.

B) Cost estimates are primarily the responsibility of the architect.

• False. While architects may contribute to cost estimates, especially regarding design-related expenses, it is typically the management’s responsibility to oversee and finalize cost estimates for the entire project2.

C) Architects advise project management on the definition of work packages.

• True. Architects play a crucial role in defining work packages, particularly in ensuring that the technical aspects of the project are accurately captured and planned for1.

D) Management and architects cooperate on handling of technical risks.

• True. Both management and architects need to work closely to identify, assess, and manage technical risks throughout the project2.

As an architect, you can specify the following characteristics of a black-box building block:

• Compliance with functional requirements (A)
• Compliance with non-functional requirements (B)
• Purpose and/or responsibility (D)
• Method signature of public interfaces (E)
• Data formats of public interfaces (F)

In software architecture, a black-box building block is a component whose internal structure is not exposed to or understood by other components. It is defined only by its provided functionality and the services it offers. Here’s a detailed explanation of each characteristic:

• Compliance with Functional Requirements (A): This refers to the ability of the building block to perform the functions it was designed to do, which are often captured in a functional specification document.
• Compliance with Non-functional Requirements (B): These are criteria that can be used to judge the operation of a system, rather than specific behaviors. This includes requirements related to scalability, performance, security, and reliability.
• Purpose and/or Responsibility (D): This defines the role the building block plays in the overall system architecture, including its responsibilities and the services it provides.
• Method Signature of Public Interfaces (E): The method signature defines the interface that other components can use to interact with the building block. It includes the method name, parameters, and return type.
• Data Formats of Public Interfaces (F): This specifies the format and structure of the data that is accepted or returned by the building block’s public interfaces.

These characteristics are essential for ensuring that the building block can be effectively integrated into a larger system and interact with other components as expected.

References:

• Bass, L., Clements, P., & Kazman, R. (2012). Software Architecture in Practice (3rd ed.). Addison-Wesley Professional.
• Martin, R. C. (2003). Agile Software Development: Principles, Patterns, and Practices. Prentice Hall.
• Fowler, M. (2002). Patterns of Enterprise Application Architecture. Addison-Wesley.