The debate over optimal structures for monoliths and microservices — aimed at minimizing maintenance and extension costs — is ongoing and lively. This course addresses the following key topics:

- Identifying common challenges in software structure decision-making.
- Understanding prevalent architecture design anti-patterns and their drawbacks.
- Unpacking Layered Architecture and its role in concern separation.
- Exploring Hexagonal, Onion, and Clean Architectures: their interrelations and problem-solving capabilities.
- Introducing Vertical Slice Architecture and its place in the architectural landscape.

While the code examples will be Java-based, the principles discussed are largely language-independent, allowing for application across various programming environments.