Conference Talks

Balancing Coupling in Software Design

This is the remastered version of the original talk “Balancing Coupling in Distributed Systems”, which I presented at DDD Europe 2020. The talk introduces the integration strength model, along with the models that inspired it–structured design’s module coupling and connascence–and explores how it interacts with the two other dimensions of coupling: distance and volatility.


Fractal Geometry of Software Design

This talk was presented as the opening keynote at DDD Europe 2022. It explores growth dynamics in software systems and how the balanced coupling model supports sustainable growth by applying concepts from fractal geometry.

Complexity & Modularity: the Yin and Yang of Socio-Technical Design

At the Global Software Architecture Summit 2024, Sonya Natanzon spoke about the concepts of complexity and modularity in the context of socio-technical design, and how the principles of balanced coupling can be applied to both technical and organizational design decisions.

Turning Complexity Into Modularity

This talk explores the counterintuitive relationship between the notions of modularity and complexity, and their shared underlying causes. It then shows how the balanced coupling model can be used to shift the system’s trajectory from growing complexity to increasing modularity.

Pragmatic Approach to Architecture Metrics

In this presentation, Sonya Natanzon and I share our doubts about traditional software design metrics and show how the balanced coupling model can serve as a stronger indicator of a system’s design decisions.