Runtime Extensibility

Kind: quality-attribute

Layer: Extensibility Core

Record: architecture:runtime-extensibility

Severity: contextual

Scope: runtime, plugin, system

Canonical: Ontology

The degree to which new capability can be added to a running system through extension points, without modifying its core.

Listed in Architecture principles, after Dynamic Dispatch and before Causality.

Requires

• Extension Points
• Stable Interfaces

Reinforces

• Plugin Architecture
• Open/Closed Principle (OCP)

Enables

• Capability Addition without Core Modification

Conflicts with

• Closed Static Core

In tension with

• Predictability
• Security

Tensions

• Runtime Extensibility / Predictability
• Runtime Extensibility / Security

Contracts

• Runtime Extensibility

Violated by

• Closed Core

Refactored by

• Extension Points

Severity

• contextual

Category

• Runtime Discovery / Dynamic Binding

Reinforced by

• Runtime Discovery
• Dynamic Binding
• Runtime Code Generation
• Prototype Pattern
• Feature Toggle

Linked from

• Runtime Discovery / Dynamic Binding
• Contracts / Interfaces / Compatibility
• Correctness / Determinism / Verification
• SOLID / Object-Oriented Design
• Metaprogramming / Language-Oriented Architecture
• Creational Patterns
• Plugin / Extensibility / IoC
• Plugin / Extensibility / IoC
• Quality Attributes
• Runtime Discovery / Dynamic Binding
• Architecture relationships
• Severity levels
• The resolutions