Hexagonal Architecture (Ports & Adapters)

Business Profile

Core Value Proposition

Hexagonal Architecture (Ports & Adapters) provides a pattern and guidance that enables an application to be driven by users, programs, automated tests or batch scripts while keeping its core logic decoupled from external devices and databases, allowing testing in isolation and flexible adapter substitution.

Target Customer

{"Software architects","Software developers","QA engineers","Organizations implementing software systems seeking decoupled, testable architectures"}

Key Differentiator

Inside-outside symmetry with clearly defined ports and adapters, allowing multiple adapters per port and enabling headless operation and API-driven interactions.

Implementation Timeline

Not specified in the provided content

Pain Points

1Business logic leaking into the user interface/presentation layer, hindering automated testing and maintainability
2Difficulty testing and integrating with external systems like databases or services when they change or fail
3Limited ability to regression-test or substitute technologies without impacting core application logic

Key Features

1Inside vs. outside ( Ports & Adapters ) architecture to decouple core logic from external devices/databases
2Multiple adapters per port to support diverse technologies (GUI, test harness, HTTP, mocks, databases, etc.)
3 distinction between driving (primary) adapters and driven (secondary) adapters
4Support for headless execution via APIs and in-memory/mock components for testing
5Use of automated tests and test harnesses (e.g., FIT) to drive and verify behavior

Target Customer Industries

Client Results

1Improved testability and maintainability of software systems
2Enhanced ability to run automated regression tests and isolate changes
3Greater flexibility to replace or add adapters/technologies without altering core logic

Competitive Advantages

1Significant improvement in testability through isolation of business logic from external interfaces
2Flexibility to substitute adapters and technologies without changing core code
3Supports headless operation and API-driven integration
4Facilitates automated testing and regression testing workflows

Key Benefits

1Decoupled core logic from UI and data storage

2Enhanced testability with automated tests and mocks

3Easy substitution or addition of adapters/technologies without touching core logic

4Headless operation and API-driven workflows

5Support for automated regression testing

Case Studies & Success Stories

Weather service use case (Ports & Adapters example)

Case #1

An architecture example with four natural ports: weather feed, administrator, notified subscribers, and subscriber database. Demonstrates adding an HTTP feed and email notification adapters and running the application in headless mode for automated regression testing.

Intermountain Health Care sample code contribution

Case #2

Acknowledgement of providing sample code used in the hexagonal architecture article, illustrating healthcare domain relevance.

Additional Product Information

Product Description

Pattern and guidance for structuring software so core application logic remains isolated from UI and data stores, enabling multiple interchangeable adapters and robust testing.

Target Market

Software development teams, architects, and QA groups building enterprise software across healthcare, government/public sector, and technology companies.

Unique Value Proposition

Inside-outside architecture that decouples internal business logic from external systems, enabling flexible adapters, headless operation, and strong testability.

Technical Requirements

Content highlights ports and adapters concept, primary vs secondary adapters, examples using FIT, in-memory/mock databases, and Java code samples illustrating adapters and repositories.

Pricing Model

Not specified

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