Balancing Coupling in Software Design: Successful Software Architecture in General and Distributed Systems, 1st edition

Published by Addison-Wesley Professional (October 28, 2024) © 2025

  • Vlad Khononov

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This book identifies the deeper problem—how software architects and designers approach coupling – and introduces an important new approach for creating more successful designs whether you use microservices or not. Instead of blindly avoiding coupling, leading software architecture expert Vladik (Vlad) Khononov proposes a novel method that transforms it into a powerful design tool: “balanced multi-dimensional coupling.” Khononov begins by surveying existing methods of evaluating coupling, and illuminating their strengths and limitations in the context of modern distributed systems. Next, he introduces a new multi-dimensional coupling model, and demonstrates how to harness it to build modular software.

Instead of focusing solely on a single approach, Balancing Coupling in Software Design illuminates underlying design principles that are ubiquitous in SOA, microservices, DDD, design patterns, and other paradigms, revealing how each of them can fail if thoughtful design principles for coupling are neglected—and how balanced coupling can make all of them work more effectively.
  • Harness coupling as a purposeful software design tool, and improve your designs whether you use microservices or not
  • Get practical guidance for designing any modular distributed system
  • The latest book in the important Addison-Wesley Signature Series from Vaughn Vernon—by Vladik (Vlad) Khononov, a world-renowned expert in modern software architecture

Preface

Introduction

Part I: Coupling

Chapter 1: Coupling and System Design

Chapter 2: Coupling and Complexity: Cynefin

Chapter 3: Coupling and Complexity: Interactions

Chapter 4: Coupling and Modularity

Part II: Dimensions

Chapter 5: Structured Design’s Module Coupling

Chapter 6: Connascence

Chapter 7: Integration Strength

Chapter 8: Distance

Chapter 9: Volatility

Part III: Balance

Chapter 10: Balancing Coupling

Chapter 11: Rebalancing Coupling

Chapter 12: Fractal Geometry of Software Design

Chapter 13: Balanced Coupling in Practice

Chapter 14: Conclusion

Appendix: Answers to Quiz Questions

Index

Vlad Khononov is a software engineer with extensive industry experience, working for companies large and small in roles ranging from webmaster to chief architect. His core areas of expertise are distributed systems and software design. Vlad consults with companies to make sense of their business domains, untangle monoliths, and tackle complex architectural challenges.

Vlad maintains an active media career as a public speaker and author. Prior to Balancing Coupling in Software Design, he authored the best-selling O'Reilly book Learning Domain-Driven Design. He is a sought-after keynote speaker, presenting on topics such as domain-driven design, microservices, and software architecture in general.

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