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Concepts ​

Welcome to the conceptual foundation of Synapse Studios' development practices. This section provides the theoretical understanding and principles that guide our technical decisions.

What You'll Find Here ​

Our concepts documentation is organized into five key areas that form the foundation of how we think about software development:

🏗️ Architecture ​

Explore the architectural principles that shape how we design and build systems. From understanding the fundamental forces of coupling and cohesion to implementing clean architecture patterns, these concepts provide the blueprint for scalable, maintainable applications.

Key Topics:

  • Coupling and Cohesion - The fundamental forces that determine code quality
  • Clean Architecture - Building systems that stand the test of time
  • Modular Monolith - Starting simple while planning for growth
  • Dependency Inversion - Creating flexible, testable architectures

🎯 Patterns ​

Discover the design patterns we use to solve recurring problems elegantly. These patterns provide proven solutions that improve code organization, maintainability, and team communication.

Key Topics:

  • Use Cases - Organizing business logic in a clear, testable way
  • Repository Pattern - Abstracting data persistence properly
  • Page Object Pattern - Structuring UI tests for maintainability

🧪 Testing ​

Understand our testing philosophy and the different testing strategies we employ. Learn not just the "how" but the "why" behind our testing practices.

Key Topics:

  • Unit Testing - Fast feedback and design validation
  • Test-Driven Development - Using tests to drive better design
  • Integration Testing - Verifying component interactions
  • Frontend Testing - Ensuring UI reliability and user experience
  • Acceptance Testing - Validating business requirements

🚀 CI/CD ​

Learn the foundational practices that enable frequent, reliable software delivery. Understand how Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery reduce risk and make releases routine.

Key Topics:

  • Continuous Integration - Integrating work frequently with automated verification
  • Continuous Delivery - Ensuring software is always deployable

🔧 Working with Legacy Code ​

Learn pragmatic approaches for improving existing codebases that don't conform to current standards. Discover how to incrementally modernize systems while continuing to deliver value.

Key Topics:

  • Characterization Tests - Making untested code safe to change
  • Finding Seams - Identifying boundaries for safe refactoring
  • Strangler Fig Pattern - Gradually replacing legacy functionality
  • Branch by Abstraction - Safe concurrent modifications
  • Displacement Patterns - Routing around legacy constraints
  • The Boy Scout Rule - Continuous incremental improvement

How to Use This Section ​

  1. Start with Architecture if you're new to our development approach
  2. Reference Patterns when designing new features or refactoring existing code
  3. Consult Testing to understand what and how to test effectively
  4. Study CI/CD to understand how to integrate and deliver software frequently and safely
  5. Apply Legacy Code techniques when working with existing codebases that need improvement

Next Steps ​

After understanding these concepts, explore our Implementation guides to see how these principles are applied in specific technologies and frameworks.