System Documentation Artifact

A System Documentation Artifact is a documentation artifact that describes system characteristics, system behaviors, and system structures for technical systems.

• AKA: System Document, System Documentation, System Description Artifact, Technical System Document.
• Context:
  • It can typically describe System Architecture through architectural documentation.
  • It can typically specify System Component through component specification.
  • It can typically define System Interface through interface documentation.
  • It can typically document System Behavior through behavioral description.
  • It can typically establish System Constraint through constraint specification.
  • ...
  • It can often include System Requirement through requirement documentation.
  • It can often present System Configuration through configuration guide.
  • It can often capture System Evolution through version documentation.
  • It can often define System Operation through operational procedure.
  • ...
  • It can range from being a High-Level System Documentation Artifact to being a Detailed System Documentation Artifact, depending on its system documentation depth.
  • It can range from being a Design-Time System Documentation Artifact to being a Runtime System Documentation Artifact, depending on its system documentation phase.
  • It can range from being a Hardware System Documentation Artifact to being a Software System Documentation Artifact, depending on its system documentation domain.
  • It can range from being a Single-System Documentation Artifact to being a Multi-System Documentation Artifact, depending on its system documentation scope.
  • It can range from being a Static System Documentation Artifact to being a Dynamic System Documentation Artifact, depending on its system documentation update frequency.
  • ...
  • It can integrate with Development Environment for documentation generation.
  • It can connect to Configuration Management Database for system tracking.
  • It can interface with Monitoring System for runtime documentation.
  • It can communicate with Support Team for system maintenance.
  • It can synchronize with Compliance Framework for regulatory documentation.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • Architecture System Documentation Artifacts, such as:
    • System Architecture Documents, such as:
      • Enterprise System Architecture Document for enterprise architecture.
      • Distributed System Architecture Document for distributed architecture.
    • Software Architecture Documents, such as:
      • Application Architecture Document for application structure.
      • Service Architecture Document for service design.
  • Design System Documentation Artifacts, such as:
    • System Design Documents, such as:
      • Hardware System Design Document for hardware specification.
      • Software System Design Document for software specification.
    • Interface Design Documents, such as:
      • API Design Document for API specification.
      • Protocol Design Document for protocol specification.
  • Operational System Documentation Artifacts, such as:
    • System Administration Guide for system management.
    • System Deployment Guide for system installation.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • User Documentation, which describes system usage rather than system structure.
  • Marketing Material, which promotes system capabilitys rather than documenting technical details.
  • Training Material, which teaches system operation rather than describing system architecture.
• See: Documentation Artifact, System Document, Technical Documentation, Architecture Document, Design Document, System Specification, Technical Artifact.

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