Wardley Maps Meets Software Architecture

Key Takeaways

• Wardley Maps are a method for visualizing competitive landscapes from technological, economic, social, and political perspectives.
• Maps differ from graphs in that space has meaning - components cannot be moved arbitrarily.
• Wardley Maps have an evolution axis from Genesis (new) to Commodity (standard).
• Architecture diagrams are often just “beliefs” when they are not generated from code.
• Collaborative creation of maps is important for shared understanding.
• AI and LLMs can be useful for prototypes, but critical thinking and human control remain important.

Core Questions Addressed

• What are Wardley Maps and how do they differ from other diagrams?
• Why should architecture diagrams be generated from code?
• How can Wardley Maps be used in software architecture?
• What role do AI and LLMs play in software development?
• How can maps be used for better communication and decision-making?

Glossary of Important Terms

• Wardley Maps: Visualization method for competitive landscapes with evolution axis
• Genesis: Earliest development stage in Wardley Maps (new/innovative)
• Commodity: Final development stage in Wardley Maps (standardized)
• Value Chain: Value chain within an organization
• Supply Chain: Supply chain across organizational boundaries
• LLM (Large Language Model): AI language models like ChatGPT