c3-container-design

Container architecture design maps your system's deployable units by defining internal component organization, technology choices, and cross-container communication. Start by loading your Context constraints, documenting boundary protocols and actors, then produce mermaid diagrams and dependency rules that guide component implementation and prevent architectural drift.

Document boundaries by extracting protocols, actors, and cross-cutting concerns from your container definition. Create architecture artifacts—mermaid diagrams, component tables, and dependency rules—that clarify which components are Foundation vs Business, enabling consistent downstream implementation across your microservices.

Systematically analyze how a new service affects siblings and child components by verifying Context constraints, mapping external interfaces to internal components, documenting ownership, and defining contracts that child components must satisfy. This prevents cascading changes and architectural misalignment.

Restructure when pattern changes, new components, or cross-container communication needs emerge. Use container-level design to map interfaces, enforce governance rules, and document the rationale—ensuring alignment with Context constraints and preventing uncontrolled technology drift across deployable units.

Yes. Strategic diagram selection—flowcharts, sequence, state diagrams—visually clarifies container responsibilities and inter-service communication. High-ROI diagrams guide Foundation vs Business delineation and make downstream component-design decisions explicit and discoverable by your team.