Architecture Documentation

BigLedger Architecture Documentation

Comprehensive technical architecture documentation for developers, system architects, and technical teams implementing or integrating with the BigLedger platform. This section provides deep insights into system design, technical patterns, and architectural decisions.

Overview

BigLedger’s architecture documentation covers the complete technical landscape of the platform, designed for:

• Enterprise Architects - System integration and enterprise planning
• Solution Architects - Implementation planning and design decisions
• Development Teams - Technical implementation and customization
• DevOps Engineers - Deployment, scaling, and operations
• Integration Specialists - API integration and system connectivity

Architecture Domains

Core System Architecture

Planned Architecture Documentation

The following architecture documents are planned for future release:

Platform Architecture

• Microservices Design - Service boundaries, communication patterns, and service mesh
• Data Architecture - Database design, data modeling, and storage strategies
• Integration Architecture - API design, event streaming, and external integrations
• Security Architecture - Authentication, authorization, and data protection

Infrastructure Architecture

• Cloud Architecture - Multi-region deployment and cloud infrastructure
• Scalability Design - Horizontal scaling, load balancing, and performance optimization
• Deployment Architecture - Container orchestration, CI/CD, and environment management
• Monitoring & Observability - Logging, metrics, tracing, and alerting

Domain-Specific Architecture

• Module Architecture - Business module design and domain boundaries
• Applet Architecture - Applet framework and component design
• Workflow Architecture - Business process automation and workflow engine
• Reporting Architecture - Analytics, reporting, and business intelligence

Key Architectural Principles

1. Domain-Driven Design (DDD)

BigLedger is organized around business domains with clear boundaries and responsibilities:

Business Domains:
├── Core Platform
│   ├── Identity & Access Management
│   ├── Tenant & Organization Management
│   └── System Configuration
├── Financial Operations
│   ├── Accounting & General Ledger
│   ├── Accounts Receivable
│   └── Accounts Payable
├── Supply Chain
│   ├── Inventory Management
│   ├── Purchasing & Procurement
│   └── Manufacturing
├── Customer Operations
│   ├── Sales & CRM
│   ├── E-Commerce
│   └── Point of Sale
└── Compliance & Analytics
    ├── E-Invoice & Tax Compliance
    ├── Reporting & Analytics
    └── Audit & Compliance

2. Microservices Architecture

Each business domain is implemented as independent, loosely-coupled microservices:

• Service Autonomy - Independent deployment and scaling
• Technology Diversity - Best tool for each job
• Fault Isolation - Failure containment and resilience
• Team Independence - Autonomous development teams

3. Event-Driven Architecture

Business operations generate events that drive system behavior:

• Asynchronous Communication - Loose coupling between services
• Event Sourcing - Complete audit trail and state reconstruction
• Real-Time Updates - Immediate system-wide notifications
• Integration Flexibility - Easy third-party system integration

4. Multi-Tenant SaaS Design

Secure tenant isolation with efficient resource sharing:

• Schema-per-Tenant - Maximum security and customization
• Shared Infrastructure - Cost-effective resource utilization
• Tenant Context - Automatic data isolation and routing
• Feature Flexibility - Per-tenant feature enablement

Technology Stack

Frontend Technologies

• Angular Framework - Modern TypeScript-based web application framework
• Responsive Design - Mobile-first, cross-device compatibility
• Progressive Web App - Offline capabilities and native-like experience
• Component Library - Reusable UI components and design system

Backend Technologies

• Node.js Runtime - High-performance JavaScript/TypeScript server runtime
• Express.js Framework - Fast, minimalist web framework
• TypeScript - Type-safe JavaScript for better maintainability
• Microservices - Domain-driven service architecture

Data & Storage

• PostgreSQL - Primary relational database for transactional data
• Redis - High-performance caching and session storage
• Elasticsearch - Full-text search and analytics engine
• File Storage - Cloud-based document and media storage

Infrastructure & DevOps

• Docker Containers - Application containerization and packaging
• Kubernetes - Container orchestration and management
• Cloud Platforms - Multi-cloud deployment and scaling
• CI/CD Pipelines - Automated testing, building, and deployment

Integration Capabilities

API Architecture

• RESTful APIs - Standard HTTP-based API interfaces
• GraphQL - Flexible query language for complex data requirements
• WebSocket - Real-time bidirectional communication
• Webhook Support - Event-driven external system notifications

Data Integration

• ETL Pipelines - Data extraction, transformation, and loading
• Real-Time Streaming - Event-based data synchronization
• Batch Processing - Scheduled data processing and imports
• API Gateways - Centralized API management and security

Third-Party Integrations

• Banking Systems - Payment processing and bank reconciliation
• Government Portals - Tax filing and regulatory compliance
• E-Commerce Platforms - Online sales and inventory synchronization
• Business Intelligence - Analytics and reporting platforms

Security & Compliance

Security Framework

• Zero Trust Architecture - Never trust, always verify security model
• Multi-Factor Authentication - Enhanced user authentication security
• Role-Based Access Control - Granular permission management
• Data Encryption - End-to-end data protection

Compliance Standards

• SOC 2 Type II - Security, availability, and confidentiality controls
• GDPR Compliance - European data protection regulation compliance
• ISO 27001 - Information security management standards
• Industry Standards - Sector-specific compliance requirements

Performance & Scalability

Performance Optimization

• Horizontal Scaling - Scale out with demand
• Caching Strategies - Multi-layer caching for optimal performance
• Database Optimization - Query optimization and indexing
• CDN Integration - Global content delivery and acceleration

Monitoring & Observability

• Application Monitoring - Real-time performance and health monitoring
• Distributed Tracing - Request flow tracking across services
• Log Aggregation - Centralized logging and analysis
• Alert Management - Proactive issue detection and notification

Development Standards

Code Quality

• TypeScript - Type safety and better developer experience
• Code Reviews - Peer review and quality assurance
• Automated Testing - Unit, integration, and end-to-end testing
• Static Analysis - Code quality and security scanning

Documentation Standards

• API Documentation - Comprehensive API reference and examples
• Architecture Decision Records - Technical decision documentation
• Code Documentation - Inline code comments and explanations
• Runbooks - Operational procedures and troubleshooting guides

Getting Started with Architecture

For Architects

1. Review System Overview - Understand high-level architecture and patterns
2. Study Domain Models - Learn business domain boundaries and relationships
3. Analyze Integration Points - Identify system interfaces and dependencies
4. Plan Implementation - Design integration and deployment strategies

For Developers

1. Understand Service Architecture - Learn microservices design and communication
2. Study API Patterns - Review API design standards and conventions
3. Review Data Models - Understand data structures and relationships
4. Explore Development Tools - Set up development environment and tools

For DevOps Engineers

1. Study Infrastructure Architecture - Understand deployment and scaling patterns
2. Review Monitoring Setup - Learn observability and alerting systems
3. Understand Security Requirements - Review security and compliance controls
4. Plan Deployment Strategy - Design CI/CD pipelines and environment management

Architecture Evolution

Current Architecture (v2.x)

• Microservices foundation with event-driven communication
• Multi-tenant SaaS platform with schema-per-tenant isolation
• Cloud-native deployment with Kubernetes orchestration
• RESTful APIs with GraphQL for complex queries

Future Architecture (v3.x)

• Enhanced AI/ML Integration - Intelligent automation and insights
• Edge Computing - Distributed processing for global performance
• Serverless Components - Event-driven serverless functions
• Advanced Analytics - Real-time streaming analytics and intelligence

Contributing to Architecture

Architecture Review Process

1. RFC Process - Request for Comments on significant changes
2. Design Reviews - Peer review of architectural decisions
3. Impact Assessment - Evaluation of changes on existing systems
4. Documentation Updates - Maintain current and accurate documentation

Architecture Governance

• Architecture Board - Technical oversight and decision authority
• Standards Compliance - Adherence to established patterns and practices
• Technology Evaluation - Assessment of new technologies and tools
• Continuous Improvement - Regular architecture review and optimization

Related Documentation

Technical Documentation

• API Reference - Complete API documentation and examples
• Developer Guides - Implementation guides and best practices
• Integration Guides - Third-party integration documentation

Operational Documentation

• Deployment Guides - Platform deployment and configuration
• Monitoring Setup - Observability and alerting configuration
• Security Guidelines - Security implementation and best practices

Support & Community

Technical Support

• Architecture Office - Enterprise architecture support and guidance
• Developer Community - Community-driven support and knowledge sharing
• Professional Services - Expert implementation and consulting services
• Training Programs - Architecture and development training resources