Solution Building Block

Intro

A solution building block is a deployable component used to construct a solution. In EA, SBBs implement capabilities and conform to standards.

Key points:

• Reusable units with clear interfaces and configurations.
• Accelerates delivery and consistency.
• Common use cases across EA/BPM/Data/App/Tech include shared services, integration adapters, and UI modules.
• Pitfall: customizing SBBs so heavily they lose reusability.

Examples:

• Authentication module reused across applications.
• Message broker connector for partner integrations.
• Reporting component for standardized dashboards.

In practice:

Catalog SBBs with versioning and policies; govern usage to maintain compatibility.

Related terms: Building Block; Reference Architecture; Architecture Principles

FAQs:

Q: Are SBBs physical or logical?
A: They are implementable components derived from logical designs.

Q: How do we manage SBB lifecycles?
A: With version control, deprecation policies, and testing.

‍