MCPInstall

architecture-patterns

Implement proven backend architecture patterns including Clean Architecture, Hexagonal Architecture, and Domain-Driven Design. Use when architecting complex backend systems or refactoring existing applications for better maintainability.

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Install

Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.

npx skills add https://github.com/secondsky/claude-skills --skill architecture-patterns
  1. 01

    Install

    Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.

  2. 02

    Describe the task

    Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads architecture-patterns automatically when relevant.

  3. 03

    Review the result

    The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.

SKILL.md

The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.

Architecture Patterns

Master proven backend architecture patterns including Clean Architecture, Hexagonal Architecture, and Domain-Driven Design to build maintainable, testable, and scalable systems.

When to Use This Skill

  • Designing new backend systems from scratch
  • Refactoring monolithic applications for better maintainability
  • Establishing architecture standards for your team
  • Migrating from tightly coupled to loosely coupled architectures
  • Implementing domain-driven design principles
  • Creating testable and mockable codebases
  • Planning microservices decomposition

Core Concepts

1. Clean Architecture (Uncle Bob)

Layers (dependency flows inward):

  • Entities: Core business models
  • Use Cases: Application business rules
  • Interface Adapters: Controllers, presenters, gateways
  • Frameworks & Drivers: UI, database, external services

Key Principles:

  • Dependencies point inward
  • Inner layers know nothing about outer layers
  • Business logic independent of frameworks
  • Testable without UI, database, or external services

2. Hexagonal Architecture (Ports and Adapters)

Components:

  • Domain Core: Business logic
  • Ports: Interfaces defining interactions
  • Adapters: Implementations of ports (database, REST, message queue)

Benefits:

  • Swap implementations easily (mock for testing)
  • Technology-agnostic core
  • Clear separation of concerns

3. Domain-Driven Design (DDD)

Strategic Patterns:

  • Bounded Contexts: Separate models for different domains
  • Context Mapping: How contexts relate
  • Ubiquitous Language: Shared terminology

Tactical Patterns:

  • Entities: Objects with identity
  • Value Objects: Immutable objects defined by attributes
  • Aggregates: Consistency boundaries
  • Repositories: Data access abstraction
  • Domain Events: Things that happened

Clean Architecture Pattern

Directory Structure

app/
├── domain/           # Entities & business rules
│   ├── entities/
│   ├── value_objects/
│   └── interfaces/   # Abstract interfaces
├── use_cases/        # Application business rules
├── adapters/         # Interface implementations
│   ├── repositories/
│   ├── controllers/
│   └── gateways/
└── infrastructure/   # Framework & external concerns

Implementation Example

# domain/entities/user.py
from dataclasses import dataclass
from datetime import datetime

@dataclass
class User:
    """Core user entity - no framework dependencies."""
    id: str
    email: str
    name: str
    created_at: datetime
    is_active: bool = True

    def deactivate(self):
        """Business rule: deactivating user."""
        self.is_active = False

    def can_place_order(self) -> bool:
        """Business rule: active users can order."""
        return self.is_active

# domain/interfaces/user_repository.py
from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
from typing import Optional

class IUserRepository(ABC):
    """Port: defines contract, no implementation."""

    @abstractmethod
    async def find_by_id(self, user_id: str) -> Optional[User]:
        pass

    @abstractmethod
    async def save(self, user: User) -> User:
        pass

# use_cases/create_user.py
from dataclasses import dataclass
import uuid
from datetime import datetime

@dataclass
class CreateUserRequest:
    email: str
    name: str

class CreateUserUseCase:
    """Use case: orchestrates business logic."""

    def __init__(self, user_repository: IUserRepository):
        self.user_repository = user_repository

    async def execute(self, request: CreateUserRequest) -> CreateUserResponse:
        # Business validation
        existing = await self.user_repository.find_by_email(request.email)
        if existing:
            return CreateUserResponse(user=None, success=False, error="Email already exists")

        # Create entity
        user = User(
            id=str(uuid.uuid4()),
            email=request.email,
            name=request.name,
            created_at=datetime.now(),
            is_active=True
        )

        # Persist
        saved_user = await self.user_repository.save(user)
        return CreateUserResponse(user=saved_user, success=True)

# adapters/repositories/postgres_user_repository.py
class PostgresUserRepository(IUserRepository):
    """Adapter: PostgreSQL implementation."""

    def __init__(self, pool):
        self.pool = pool

    async def find_by_id(self, user_id: str) -> Optional[User]:
        async with self.pool.acquire() as conn:
            row = await conn.fetchrow("SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = $1", user_id)
            return self._to_entity(row) if row else None

    async def save(self, user: User) -> User:
        async with self.pool.acquire() as conn:
            await conn.execute(
                """INSERT INTO users (id, email, name, created_at, is_active)
                VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5)
                ON CONFLICT (id) DO UPDATE SET email = $2, name = $3, is_active = $5""",
                user.id, user.email, user.name, user.created_at, user.is_active
            )
            return user

Hexagonal Architecture Pattern

# Core domain (hexagon center)
class OrderService:
    """Domain service - no infrastructure dependencies."""

    def __init__(
        self,
        order_repository: OrderRepositoryPort,
        payment_gateway: PaymentGatewayPort,
        notification_service: NotificationPort
    ):
        self.orders = order_repository
        self.payments = payment_gateway
        self.notifications = notification_service

    async def place_order(self, order: Order) -> OrderResult:
        # Business logic
        if not order.is_valid():
            return OrderResult(success=False, error="Invalid order")

        # Use ports (interfaces)
        payment = await self.payments.charge(amount=order.total, customer=order.customer_id)

        if not payment.success:
            return OrderResult(success=False, error="Payment failed")

        order.mark_as_paid()
        saved_order = await self.orders.save(order)

        await self.notifications.send(
            to=order.customer_email,
            subject="Order confirmed",
            body=f"Order {order.id} confirmed"
        )

        return OrderResult(success=True, order=saved_order)

# Adapters
class StripePaymentAdapter(PaymentGatewayPort):
    """Primary adapter: connects to Stripe API."""
    async def charge(self, amount: Money, customer: str) -> PaymentResult:
        # Implementation

class MockPaymentAdapter(PaymentGatewayPort):
    """Test adapter: no external dependencies."""
    async def charge(self, amount: Money, customer: str) -> PaymentResult:
        return PaymentResult(success=True, transaction_id="mock-123")

Domain-Driven Design Pattern

# Value Objects (immutable)
@dataclass(frozen=True)
class Email:
    value: str

    def __post_init__(self):
        if "@" not in self.value:
            raise ValueError("Invalid email")

@dataclass(frozen=True)
class Money:
    amount: int  # cents
    currency: str

    def add(self, other: "Money") -> "Money":
        if self.currency != other.currency:
            raise ValueError("Currency mismatch")
        return Money(self.amount + other.amount, self.currency)

# Entities (with identity)
class Order:
    def __init__(self, id: str, customer: Customer):
        self.id = id
        self.customer = customer
        self.items: List[OrderItem] = []
        self.status = OrderStatus.PENDING
        self._events: List[DomainEvent] = []

    def add_item(self, product: Product, quantity: int):
        item = OrderItem(product, quantity)
        self.items.append(item)
        self._events.append(ItemAddedEvent(self.id, item))

    def submit(self):
        if not self.items:
            raise ValueError("Cannot submit empty order")
        self.status = OrderStatus.SUBMITTED
        self._events.append(OrderSubmittedEvent(self.id))

# Aggregates (consistency boundary)
class Customer:
    def __init__(self, id: str, email: Email):
        self.id = id
        self.email = email
        self._addresses: List[Address] = []

    def add_address(self, address: Address):
        if len(self._addresses) >= 5:
            raise ValueError("Maximum 5 addresses allowed")
        self._addresses.append(address)

Best Practices

  1. Dependency Rule: Dependencies always point inward
  2. Interface Segregation: Small, focused interfaces
  3. Business Logic in Domain: Keep frameworks out of core
  4. Test Independence: Core testable without infrastructure
  5. Bounded Contexts: Clear domain boundaries
  6. Ubiquitous Language: Consistent terminology
  7. Thin Controllers: Delegate to use cases
  8. Rich Domain Models: Behavior with data

Common Pitfalls

  • Anemic Domain: Entities with only data, no behavior
  • Framework Coupling: Business logic depends on frameworks
  • Fat Controllers: Business logic in controllers
  • Repository Leakage: Exposing ORM objects
  • Missing Abstractions: Concrete dependencies in core
  • Over-Engineering: Clean architecture for simple CRUD

FAQ

What does the architecture-patterns skill do?

Implement proven backend architecture patterns including Clean Architecture, Hexagonal Architecture, and Domain-Driven Design. Use when architecting complex backend systems or refactoring existing applications for better maintainability.

How do I install architecture-patterns?

Run npx skills add https://github.com/secondsky/claude-skills --skill architecture-patterns in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/architecture-patterns/ (personal) or .claude/skills/architecture-patterns/ (project).

Which AI agents can use architecture-patterns?

Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.

Is architecture-patterns safe to install?

No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.

Who maintains architecture-patterns?

It is published by secondsky in secondsky/claude-skills. It has 496 recorded installs.

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