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Architect Preamble

Context​

This document provides the foundational context for architectural decisions and system design within the Quantum Platform. All architectural work should reference and build upon these principles.

Core Architectural Principles​

1. Intent-Driven Architecture​

Every system component must be traceable to an explicit business intent. This ensures:

  • Clear business justification for all changes
  • Proper impact analysis and testing
  • Compliance with regulatory requirements
  • Maintainable and auditable codebase

2. Multi-Tenant Security Model​

The platform enforces strict tenant isolation through multiple layers:

  • Row-Level Security (RLS): Database-level tenant isolation
  • Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC): Fine-grained authorization
  • Intent Registry Service (IRS) Gates: Tenant boundary enforcement
  • Zero-Trust Architecture: No implicit trust between services

3. Cloud-Native Design​

All components are designed for cloud deployment:

  • Containerized microservices
  • Event-driven architecture
  • Auto-scaling and self-healing
  • Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

4. Security by Design​

Security is integrated into every layer:

  • Authentication and authorization at all entry points
  • Encryption at rest and in transit
  • Comprehensive audit logging
  • Regular security scanning and updates

Architectural Constraints​

Technology Stack​

  • Backend: Python/FastAPI, Go for high-performance services
  • Frontend: React/TypeScript with modern tooling
  • Database: PostgreSQL with RLS
  • Message Queue: Azure Event Hubs
  • Storage: Azure Blob Storage
  • Container Registry: Azure Container Registry
  • Orchestration: Kubernetes (AKS)

Performance Requirements​

  • API response time: < 200ms (95th percentile)
  • System uptime: 99.9% SLA
  • Concurrent users: 10,000+ per tenant
  • Data processing: Real-time event processing

Compliance Requirements​

  • GDPR compliance for EU data
  • SOC 2 Type II controls
  • Regular security audits
  • Data retention policies

Design Patterns​

Service Communication​

  • Event-driven communication for loose coupling
  • API-first design with OpenAPI specifications
  • Circuit breaker patterns for resilience
  • Retry mechanisms with exponential backoff

Data Management​

  • Event sourcing for audit trails
  • CQRS for read/write separation
  • Database per tenant for strict isolation
  • Backup and disaster recovery procedures

Security Patterns​

  • OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect for authentication
  • JWT tokens for stateless authentication
  • Role-based access control (RBAC)
  • Attribute-based access control (ABAC)

Quality Attributes​

Scalability​

  • Horizontal scaling of stateless services
  • Database sharding strategies
  • Caching layers for performance
  • Load balancing and auto-scaling

Reliability​

  • Circuit breaker patterns
  • Bulkhead isolation
  • Graceful degradation
  • Comprehensive monitoring and alerting

Maintainability​

  • Modular architecture with clear boundaries
  • Comprehensive documentation
  • Automated testing at all levels
  • Continuous integration and deployment

Security​

  • Defense in depth
  • Principle of least privilege
  • Regular security assessments
  • Incident response procedures

Decision Framework​

When making architectural decisions, consider:

  1. Impact on tenant isolation: Does this change affect multi-tenancy?
  2. Security implications: What are the security risks and mitigations?
  3. Performance impact: How does this affect system performance?
  4. Maintainability: How does this affect long-term maintenance?
  5. Compliance: Does this meet regulatory requirements?

References​