Example SADs

Learning by Example

These example SADs demonstrate how to apply the Architecture Description Standard to real-world solutions. Each example is a completed (fictional) Solution Architecture Document showing what good looks like across different project types and depths.

Not Real Projects

These examples are fictional but realistic. They are designed to demonstrate the standard’s sections, fields, and scoring — not to prescribe specific technology choices or represent any real organisation.

AI-Generated Content

Each example was AI-generated against the standard, then edited and reviewed by the maintainer. The architectures, organisations, fictional team members, and figures (cost estimates, scoring rationales, RTO/RPO targets) are illustrative — they’re plausible patterns for the scenario, not validated production figures. Use them to understand how to populate the standard, not as references for real architectural decisions.

Employee Directory

A simple internal web application on Azure PaaS. Demonstrates a straightforward SAD at Recommended depth — ideal for understanding the basics.

View Example SAD | Markdown | JSON

Customer API Platform

A cloud-native, customer-facing REST API on AWS. Demonstrates a Comprehensive SAD with full quality attributes, security, and governance.

View Example SAD | Markdown | JSON

Cloud Migration

An on-premises legacy application migrating to Azure. Demonstrates the migration sections (6 R’s), current-state architecture, and transition planning at Recommended depth.

View Example SAD | Markdown | JSON

archstandard.org

This website. A meta-example showing how ADS documents a simple static site at Minimum depth — proving even small projects benefit from structured architecture documentation.

View Example SAD | Markdown | JSON

NorthWind Retail

A B2C e-commerce platform replacing a legacy storefront on AWS. Demonstrates a Recommended-depth SAD for a Tier 2 PCI-DSS-regulated retail platform with peak Black Friday capacity requirements.

View Example SAD | Markdown | JSON

Medwick Healthcare

A fictional national-healthcare patient portal on Azure UK. Demonstrates a Comprehensive-depth SAD for a Tier 1 clinical system with clinical safety assurance, healthcare data security governance, and UK data residency.

View Example SAD | Markdown | JSON

Stellar Platform

An Internal Developer Platform (IDP) on multi-cloud Kubernetes with Backstage. Demonstrates a Recommended-depth SAD for a Tier 3 platform-engineering solution focused on developer experience and DORA metrics.

View Example SAD | Markdown | JSON

Summary Comparison

Example	Depth	Criticality	Hosting	Key Sections Demonstrated	Overall Score
Employee Directory	Recommended	Tier 4 (Low)	Azure PaaS	Basic views, simple quality attributes, straightforward governance	3
Customer API Platform	Comprehensive	Tier 1 (Critical)	AWS EKS	Full security view, threat model, extensive integrations, compliance traceability	5
Cloud Migration	Recommended	Tier 2 (High)	Azure PaaS	Current-state architecture, 6 R’s migration, transition plan, resourcing	3
archstandard.org	Minimum	Tier 5 (Minimal)	Cloudflare Pages	Minimal viable SAD, proving even simple projects benefit from structure	3
NorthWind Retail	Recommended	Tier 2 (High)	AWS EKS	PCI-DSS regulated retail, Black Friday capacity planning, Strangler Fig migration	4
Medwick Healthcare	Comprehensive	Tier 1 (Critical)	Azure UK	Healthcare DSPT-equivalent governance, clinical safety standards, FHIR R4 integration, full threat model	4.9
Stellar Platform	Recommended	Tier 3 (Medium)	Multi-cloud Kubernetes	Internal Developer Platform, DORA metrics, Team Topologies, golden paths	3

How to Use These Examples

1. Read one that matches your project type — pick the example closest to your solution
2. Note the depth — each example states its documentation depth (Minimum, Recommended, or Comprehensive)
3. Check the scoring — each example includes a compliance scoring table showing how it was assessed
4. Copy the structure — download a blank template and use the example as a reference while completing your own SAD

Validating Your SAD Against the Schema

Once you’ve completed your SAD in JSON or YAML format, validate it against the ADS schema. Step-by-step instructions for ajv-cli and Python jsonschema (Node and Python equivalents) are on the Validating a SAD against the Schema section of the JSON Schema page.