# Technical Research Step 4: Architectural Patterns

<purpose>
Conduct architectural patterns analysis identifying system architecture patterns and trade-offs, design principles and best practices, scalability and performance patterns, integration and communication patterns, security architecture patterns, and data and deployment architecture using verified web search data.
</purpose>

<instructions>
1. Execute web searches for system architecture patterns, design principles, scalability patterns, and security architecture
2. Analyze and aggregate architectural findings
3. Generate architectural patterns analysis content with seven subsections (System Architecture Patterns, Design Principles, Scalability Patterns, Integration Patterns, Security Architecture, Data Architecture, Deployment Architecture)
4. Include source citations for all architectural data
5. Write content immediately to document
6. Present [C] continue option after content generation
7. Update frontmatter stepsCompleted to [1, 2, 3, 4] before loading next step
</instructions>

<output>
Architectural patterns analysis sections containing:
- System architecture patterns with source citations
- Design principles and best practices with source citations
- Scalability and performance patterns with source citations
- Integration and communication patterns with source citations
- Security architecture patterns with source citations
- Data architecture patterns with source citations
- Deployment and operations architecture with source citations
- All content appended to research document
</output>

## MANDATORY EXECUTION RULES (READ FIRST):

- 🛑 NEVER generate content without web search verification

- 📖 CRITICAL: ALWAYS read the complete step file before taking any action - partial understanding leads to incomplete decisions
- 🔄 CRITICAL: When loading next step with 'C', ensure the entire file is read and understood before proceeding
- ✅ Search the web to verify and supplement your knowledge with current facts
- 📋 YOU ARE A SYSTEMS ARCHITECT, not content generator
- 💬 FOCUS on architectural patterns and design decisions
- 🔍 WEB SEARCH REQUIRED - verify current facts against live sources
- 📝 WRITE CONTENT IMMEDIATELY TO DOCUMENT
- ✅ YOU MUST ALWAYS SPEAK OUTPUT In your Agent communication style with the config `{communication_language}`

## EXECUTION PROTOCOLS:

- 🎯 Show web search analysis before presenting findings
- ⚠️ Present [C] continue option after architectural patterns content generation
- 📝 WRITE ARCHITECTURAL PATTERNS ANALYSIS TO DOCUMENT IMMEDIATELY
- 💾 ONLY proceed when user chooses C (Continue)
- 📖 Update frontmatter `stepsCompleted: [1, 2, 3, 4]` before loading next step
- 🚫 FORBIDDEN to load next step until C is selected

## CONTEXT BOUNDARIES:

- Current document and frontmatter from previous steps are available
- **Research topic = "{{research_topic}}"** - established from initial discussion
- **Research goals = "{{research_goals}}"** - established from initial discussion
- Focus on architectural patterns and design decisions
- Web search capabilities with source verification are enabled

## YOUR TASK:

Conduct comprehensive architectural patterns analysis with emphasis on design decisions and implementation approaches for {{research_topic}}.

## ARCHITECTURAL PATTERNS SEQUENCE:

### 1. Begin Architectural Patterns Analysis

Start with architectural research approach:
"Now I'll focus on **architectural patterns and design decisions** for effective architecture approaches for [technology/domain].

**Architectural Patterns Focus:**

- System architecture patterns and their trade-offs
- Design principles and best practices
- Scalability and maintainability considerations
- Integration and communication patterns
- Security and performance architectural considerations

**Let me search for current architectural patterns and approaches.**"

### 2. Web Search for System Architecture Patterns

Search for current architecture patterns:
Search the web: "system architecture patterns best practices"

**Architecture focus:**

- Microservices, monolithic, and serverless patterns
- Event-driven and reactive architectures
- Domain-driven design patterns
- Cloud-native and edge architecture patterns

### 3. Web Search for Design Principles

Search for current design principles:
Search the web: "software design principles patterns"

**Design focus:**

- SOLID principles and their application
- Clean architecture and hexagonal architecture
- API design and GraphQL vs REST patterns
- Database design and data architecture patterns

### 4. Web Search for Scalability Patterns

Search for current scalability approaches:
Search the web: "scalability architecture patterns"

**Scalability focus:**

- Horizontal vs vertical scaling patterns
- Load balancing and caching strategies
- Distributed systems and consensus patterns
- Performance optimization techniques

### 5. Generate Architectural Patterns Content

Prepare architectural analysis with web search citations:

#### Content Structure:

When saving to document, append these Level 2 and Level 3 sections:

```markdown
## Architectural Patterns and Design

### System Architecture Patterns

[System architecture patterns analysis with source citations]
_Source: [URL]_

### Design Principles and Best Practices

[Design principles analysis with source citations]
_Source: [URL]_

### Scalability and Performance Patterns

[Scalability patterns analysis with source citations]
_Source: [URL]_

### Integration and Communication Patterns

[Integration patterns analysis with source citations]
_Source: [URL]_

### Security Architecture Patterns

[Security patterns analysis with source citations]
_Source: [URL]_

### Data Architecture Patterns

[Data architecture analysis with source citations]
_Source: [URL]_

### Deployment and Operations Architecture

[Deployment architecture analysis with source citations]
_Source: [URL]_
```

### 6. Present Analysis and Continue Option

Show the generated architectural patterns and present continue option:
"I've completed the **architectural patterns analysis** for effective architecture approaches.

**Key Architectural Findings:**

- System architecture patterns and trade-offs clearly mapped
- Design principles and best practices thoroughly documented
- Scalability and performance patterns identified
- Integration and communication patterns analyzed
- Security and data architecture considerations captured

**Ready to proceed to implementation research?**
[C] Continue - Save this to the document and move to implementation research

### 7. Handle Continue Selection

#### If 'C' (Continue):

- Append the final content to the research document
- Update frontmatter: `stepsCompleted: [1, 2, 3]`
- Load: `./step-05-implementation-research.md`

## APPEND TO DOCUMENT:

When user selects 'C', append the content directly to the research document using the structure from step 5.

## SUCCESS METRICS:

✅ System architecture patterns identified with current citations
✅ Design principles clearly documented and analyzed
✅ Scalability and performance patterns thoroughly mapped
✅ Integration and communication patterns captured
✅ Security and data architecture considerations analyzed
✅ [C] continue option presented and handled correctly
✅ Content properly appended to document when C selected
✅ Proper routing to implementation research step

## FAILURE MODES:

❌ Relying solely on training data without web verification for current facts

❌ Missing critical system architecture patterns
❌ Not analyzing design trade-offs and considerations
❌ Incomplete scalability or performance patterns analysis
❌ Not presenting [C] continue option after content generation
❌ Appending content without user selecting 'C'

❌ **CRITICAL**: Reading only partial step file - leads to incomplete understanding and poor decisions
❌ **CRITICAL**: Proceeding with 'C' without fully reading and understanding the next step file
❌ **CRITICAL**: Making decisions without complete understanding of step requirements and protocols

## ARCHITECTURAL RESEARCH PROTOCOLS:

- Search for architecture documentation and pattern catalogs
- Use architectural conference proceedings and case studies
- Research successful system architectures and their evolution
- Note architectural decision records (ADRs) and rationales
- Research architecture assessment and evaluation frameworks

## NEXT STEP:

After user selects 'C' and content is saved to document, load `./step-05-implementation-research.md` to focus on implementation approaches and technology adoption.

Remember: Always emphasize current architectural data and rigorous source verification!
