# Architect Solution Validation Checklist

## Purpose
Comprehensive validation framework for the Architect to ensure technical design is robust, scalable, secure, and aligned with product requirements before development execution.

## Required Artifacts
Before proceeding, ensure access to:
- ✅ `docs/architecture.md` - Primary architecture document
- ✅ `docs/prd.md` - Product Requirements Document  
- ✅ `docs/ui-spec.md` - UI/UX specifications (if applicable)
- ✅ API documentation and technology stack details
- ✅ System diagrams and integration patterns

## Project Type Detection
**Frontend/UI Component**: [ ] Yes [ ] No
**Backend/API Component**: [ ] Yes [ ] No  
**Database Component**: [ ] Yes [ ] No
**Integration Requirements**: [ ] Yes [ ] No

---

## 1. Requirements Alignment

### Business Requirements Validation
- [ ] Core business problem clearly addressed in architecture
- [ ] Success criteria achievable with proposed technical solution
- [ ] User personas and workflows supported by system design
- [ ] Performance requirements specified and architecturally feasible
- [ ] Security requirements incorporated into design decisions

### Technical Requirements Coverage
- [ ] All functional requirements mapped to system components
- [ ] Non-functional requirements (scalability, performance, reliability) addressed
- [ ] Integration requirements clearly defined and technically sound
- [ ] Compliance requirements (WCAG, security standards) incorporated
- [ ] Data requirements satisfied by database and API design

**Notes**: {{requirements_alignment_notes}}

---

## 2. System Architecture Design

### Overall Architecture Quality  
- [ ] Architecture pattern appropriate for project complexity and requirements
- [ ] Clear separation of concerns between system layers
- [ ] Logical component organization with well-defined boundaries
- [ ] Data flow and process flow clearly documented
- [ ] Error handling strategy defined at architectural level

### Technology Stack Validation
- [ ] Technology choices justified with specific rationale
- [ ] Version compatibility verified across all stack components
- [ ] Performance implications of technology choices considered
- [ ] Team expertise alignment with selected technologies
- [ ] Long-term maintainability and support considerations addressed

### Scalability Architecture
- [ ] Horizontal scaling strategy defined where needed
- [ ] Performance bottlenecks identified and addressed
- [ ] Caching strategy appropriate for expected load patterns
- [ ] Database optimization and indexing strategies defined
- [ ] CDN and static asset delivery strategy specified

**Notes**: {{architecture_design_notes}}

---

## 3. Security Architecture

### Authentication & Authorization
- [ ] Authentication mechanism appropriate for user base and security requirements
- [ ] Authorization model supports all required access patterns
- [ ] Role-based access control (RBAC) properly designed
- [ ] Session management secure and scalable
- [ ] Multi-factor authentication considered where appropriate

### Data Protection
- [ ] Sensitive data encryption at rest and in transit
- [ ] Data privacy compliance (GDPR, CCPA) addressed in design
- [ ] Input validation and sanitization strategies defined
- [ ] SQL injection and XSS prevention measures specified
- [ ] Audit logging for security-sensitive operations

### Infrastructure Security
- [ ] Network security and firewall strategies defined
- [ ] API security (rate limiting, authentication) properly designed
- [ ] Secrets management strategy specified
- [ ] Backup and disaster recovery security considerations
- [ ] Compliance requirements (SOC 2, HIPAA) addressed if applicable

**Notes**: {{security_architecture_notes}}

---

## 4. Database Design & Data Architecture

### Data Model Quality
- [ ] Entity relationships logically sound and normalized appropriately
- [ ] Database schema supports all required operations efficiently
- [ ] Indexing strategy optimized for expected query patterns
- [ ] Data migration strategy defined for schema changes
- [ ] Referential integrity and constraint design appropriate

### Performance & Scalability
- [ ] Database performance requirements achievable with proposed design
- [ ] Connection pooling and database resource management addressed
- [ ] Read/write splitting considered for high-load scenarios
- [ ] Database sharding strategy defined if needed
- [ ] Backup and recovery procedures specified

### Data Integration
- [ ] ETL/data pipeline requirements clearly specified
- [ ] Data synchronization between systems properly designed
- [ ] Data consistency guarantees defined and achievable
- [ ] Real-time vs. batch processing decisions justified
- [ ] Data quality and validation rules defined

**Notes**: {{database_design_notes}}

---

## 5. API Design & Integration Architecture

### API Quality & Standards
- [ ] RESTful design principles followed (or GraphQL properly implemented)
- [ ] API versioning strategy defined and implementable
- [ ] Error handling and status code usage consistent and meaningful
- [ ] API documentation format specified (OpenAPI, GraphQL schema)
- [ ] Rate limiting and throttling strategies defined

### Integration Patterns
- [ ] Third-party service integrations properly abstracted
- [ ] Microservices communication patterns well-defined
- [ ] Event-driven architecture patterns appropriate where used
- [ ] Service discovery and load balancing strategies specified
- [ ] Circuit breaker and retry patterns implemented for resilience

### Performance & Monitoring
- [ ] API response time requirements achievable
- [ ] Caching strategies appropriate for API usage patterns
- [ ] API monitoring and observability strategy defined
- [ ] Load testing approach specified for critical endpoints
- [ ] SLA definitions realistic and measurable

**Notes**: {{api_integration_notes}}

---

## 6. Frontend Architecture (If Applicable)

### Component Architecture
- [ ] Component hierarchy logical and maintainable
- [ ] State management strategy appropriate for application complexity
- [ ] Routing strategy supports required user workflows
- [ ] Code splitting and lazy loading strategies defined
- [ ] Reusable component library approach specified

### Performance Optimization
- [ ] Bundle size optimization strategies defined
- [ ] Image optimization and CDN usage planned
- [ ] Caching strategies for static and dynamic content
- [ ] Progressive web app (PWA) features considered if appropriate
- [ ] Mobile performance optimization addressed

### User Experience Integration
- [ ] Responsive design approach clearly specified
- [ ] Accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 AA) compliance planned
- [ ] Loading states and error handling user experience defined
- [ ] Offline functionality considered and specified if needed
- [ ] Browser compatibility requirements addressed

**Notes**: {{frontend_architecture_notes}}

---

## 7. DevOps & Deployment Architecture

### Deployment Strategy
- [ ] Deployment environment strategy (dev/staging/prod) defined
- [ ] CI/CD pipeline architecture appropriate for team size and complexity
- [ ] Container strategy (Docker, orchestration) specified if applicable
- [ ] Infrastructure as code approach defined
- [ ] Blue-green or canary deployment strategies considered

### Monitoring & Observability
- [ ] Application monitoring and alerting strategy comprehensive
- [ ] Log management and analysis approach defined
- [ ] Performance monitoring and APM integration specified
- [ ] Error tracking and notification systems planned
- [ ] Health check and uptime monitoring strategies defined

### Infrastructure Requirements
- [ ] Cloud provider choice justified with specific rationale
- [ ] Resource allocation and auto-scaling strategies defined
- [ ] Disaster recovery and business continuity plans specified
- [ ] Cost optimization strategies considered
- [ ] Compliance and audit requirements addressed in infrastructure design

**Notes**: {{devops_deployment_notes}}

---

## 8. Quality Assurance Integration

### Testing Architecture
- [ ] Unit testing strategy and coverage targets defined
- [ ] Integration testing approach comprehensive for system complexity
- [ ] End-to-end testing strategy covers critical user journeys
- [ ] Performance testing approach defined with specific targets
- [ ] Security testing integration planned

### Code Quality Standards
- [ ] Code review process and standards defined
- [ ] Static analysis tools and quality gates specified
- [ ] Documentation standards and requirements clear
- [ ] Technical debt tracking and management approach defined
- [ ] Coding standards and style guides specified

**Notes**: {{quality_assurance_notes}}

---

## 9. Risk Assessment & Mitigation

### Technical Risks
- [ ] **High Risk**: {{high_risk_1}} - Mitigation: {{high_risk_1_mitigation}}
- [ ] **High Risk**: {{high_risk_2}} - Mitigation: {{high_risk_2_mitigation}}
- [ ] **Medium Risk**: {{medium_risk_1}} - Mitigation: {{medium_risk_1_mitigation}}
- [ ] **Medium Risk**: {{medium_risk_2}} - Mitigation: {{medium_risk_2_mitigation}}

### Integration Risks
- [ ] Third-party service dependencies identified and mitigated
- [ ] Data migration risks assessed and addressed
- [ ] Performance risks under load identified with mitigation plans
- [ ] Security vulnerabilities assessed and mitigated
- [ ] Team capability gaps identified with training/hiring plans

**Notes**: {{risk_assessment_notes}}

---

## 10. Implementation Readiness

### Development Preparation
- [ ] Architecture documentation complete and accessible to development team
- [ ] Development environment setup instructions complete
- [ ] Database setup and seed data scripts prepared
- [ ] API documentation and contract specifications ready
- [ ] Code repository structure and branching strategy defined

### Team Readiness
- [ ] Technical knowledge gaps identified and training planned
- [ ] Development tools and environment standardized
- [ ] Code review and collaboration processes established
- [ ] Definition of done and quality standards communicated
- [ ] Sprint planning and story estimation approach aligned with architecture

**Notes**: {{implementation_readiness_notes}}

---

## Final Validation Summary

### Overall Assessment
**Architecture Quality Score**: {{quality_score}}/10
**Implementation Risk Level**: {{risk_level}} (Low/Medium/High)
**Estimated Development Complexity**: {{complexity_estimate}}

### Critical Issues Identified
1. {{critical_issue_1}}
2. {{critical_issue_2}}  
3. {{critical_issue_3}}

### Recommendation
[ ] **APPROVED** - Architecture ready for development
[ ] **APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS** - Address listed issues before development
[ ] **REQUIRES REVISION** - Major architectural changes needed

### Next Steps
1. {{next_step_1}}
2. {{next_step_2}}
3. {{next_step_3}}

---

## Sign-off

**Architect**: {{architect_name}}
**Date**: {{validation_date}}
**Architecture Version**: {{architecture_version}}

**Final Notes**: {{final_validation_notes}}