Automate your software design How far we can get and how the AI chan

on YouTube ↗44m

" summary

Shows how to turn design into code: keep docs and diagrams in the repo, use docs-as-code (Markdown + static site), store Architecture Decision Records as immutable files, and generate diagrams with text syntaxes like Mermaid or PlantUML. Demonstrates scripts that pull config and auto-generate up-to-date maps, integrates C4/Structurizr for scoped views, and uses LLMs to draft ADRs and diagram code — with a concrete caveat: LLM outputs need human verification (example: generated diagram code took seven minutes and required manual fixes).

AI-written summary · about

" chapters (13)

1. 0:00🚀 Build Stuff Conference – Get Your Tickets!
2. 0:35Introduction: Technology-Agnostic Design Thinking
3. 3:20Problems in Software Design: Chaos & Over-Engineering
4. 7:00Automation Beyond Code: SDLC Overview
5. 11:10Docs-as-Code: Markdown, Repos & Validation
6. 15:30Keeping Documentation Updated & Useful
7. 19:40Architecture Decision Records (ADR)
8. 24:20Diagrams Evolution: Whiteboard → Code
9. 28:10Diagram-as-Code (Mermaid, PlantUML, Versioning)
10. 32:00C4 Model & Structurizr (Scalable Architecture Views)
11. 35:00AI in Design: Capabilities & Limitations
12. 38:00Real Workflow: AI + Docs + ADR + Diagrams
13. 40:00Final Takeaways: Automate Smart, Stay Intentional

" related talks

• 01h 00mVisualise, document and explore your software architectureSimon Brown · NDC Oslo 2017
• 57mVisualise, document and explore your software architectureSimon Brown · NDC London 2017
• 51mConsistent architecture diagrams for C++ projectsMarius Feilhauer · Meeting C++ 2019
• 51mDiagrams as code 2.0Simon Brown · JNation 2022
• 50mCoevolution of Architecture & Code - Closing The GapDave Thomas · YOW! Melbourne 2022
• 01h 00mC4 models as codeSimon Brown · NDC Oslo 2023
• 35mRewilding Software Engineering - AI, Tools and Human DecisionsSimon Wardley · Øredev 2025
• 57mDesign Patterns for Software DiagrammingJacqui Read · NDC Oslo 2025