Create System Architecture Diagram for Easier Visualization #2
Description
As the project grows, it’s becoming harder to quickly understand and reason about how all parts of the system fit together. We need a clear, high-level architecture diagram to visualize:
- Backend services and their responsibilities
- Cloud infrastructure (AWS services, auth, storage, etc.)
- Database(s) and data flow
- Frontend and how it communicates with the backend
- External services or integrations (if any)
This diagram will serve as:
- A mental model for development
- A reference for onboarding (future contributors / reviewers)
- Supporting documentation for design decisions and scaling
Scope / Requirements
The diagram should include:
Frontend
- Web / client app
- API communication flow (REST / auth)
- Environment configuration (dev vs prod if applicable)
Backend
- FastAPI application structure
- API layer
- Business logic layer
- Database access layer
- Authentication / authorization flow
Cloud / Infrastructure
- AWS services used (e.g., Cognito, S3, EC2/Lightsail, RDS, etc.)
- Environment variables & secrets handling
- Deployment boundary
Database
- Type of database
- Relationship to backend services
- Read/write flow
Acceptance Criteria
- Diagram clearly shows frontend → backend → database flow
- Cloud services are clearly labeled
- Authentication flow is understandable at a glance
- Diagram is readable even for someone new to the project
- Diagram is stored in the repository (e.g.,
/docs/architecture/)
Output Format (choose one or more)
- PNG / SVG (draw.io, Excalidraw, Lucidchart)
- Mermaid diagram (for Markdown docs)
- Figma or similar (exported)
Notes
This is a documentation-first improvement to reduce cognitive load and prevent architectural confusion as the project scales.