HLD

HLD (High-Level Design) is the high-level design that defines the general architecture of a system or solution.

What is HLD?

HLD is the high-level design that defines the general architecture, main components and relationships between them of a system or solution.

Components

Architecture

  • Components: Main components
  • Relationships: Relationships between components
  • Flows: Data flows
  • Interfaces: Interfaces between components

Technology

  • Stack: Technology stack
  • Tools: Tools and frameworks
  • Services: External services
  • Integrations: Integrations

Infrastructure

  • Servers: Servers and hardware
  • Network: Network infrastructure
  • Storage: Storage
  • Cloud: Cloud services

Design Process

Phase 1: Analysis

  • Requirements: Requirements analysis
  • Constraints: Identify constraints
  • Risks: Assess risks
  • Resources: Assess resources

Phase 2: Design

  • Architecture: Architecture design
  • Components: Define components
  • Interfaces: Design interfaces
  • Flows: Define flows

Phase 3: Validation

  • Review: Design review
  • Testing: Proof of concept
  • Validation: Stakeholder validation
  • Approval: Design approval

Phase 4: Documentation

  • Documentation: Document design
  • Diagrams: Create diagrams
  • Specifications: Technical specifications
  • Presentation: Design presentation

Tools

Diagrams

  • Visio: Microsoft Visio
  • Draw.io: Draw.io
  • Lucidchart: Lucidchart
  • Miro: Miro

Architecture

  • ArchiMate: ArchiMate
  • UML: Unified Modeling Language
  • BPMN: Business Process Model and Notation
  • TOGAF: The Open Group Architecture Framework

Collaboration

  • Confluence: Confluence
  • Notion: Notion
  • Slack: Slack
  • Teams: Microsoft Teams

Use Cases

Systems

  • Applications: Enterprise applications
  • APIs: APIs and microservices
  • Databases: Database systems
  • Integrations: System integrations

Infrastructure

  • Data Centers: Data centers
  • Cloud: Cloud architectures
  • Networks: Network infrastructure
  • Security: Security architectures

Projects

  • Development: Development projects
  • Migration: Migration projects
  • Modernization: Modernization projects
  • Integration: Integration projects

Best Practices

Design

  • Simplicity: Maintain simplicity
  • Scalability: Design to scale
  • Maintainability: Facilitate maintenance
  • Flexibility: Allow changes

Documentation

  • Clarity: Clear documentation
  • Completeness: Complete documentation
  • Updates: Keep updated
  • Accessibility: Easy access

Collaboration

  • Stakeholders: Involve stakeholders
  • Communication: Effective communication
  • Feedback: Receive feedback
  • Iteration: Iterate design

References