Data Over Dogma: Why Architecture Should Follow Data, Not Patterns

The article challenges the conventional wisdom of applying architectural patterns as templates, arguing they often feel rigid and disconnected from real problems. The author advocates for data-driven design as the true foundation—letting data structure and domain invariants guide your architectural choices rather than forcing patterns onto your codebase. Grounded in Domain-Driven Design and finite automata concepts, this approach naturally produces simpler systems, cleaner APIs, and better business alignment while avoiding the pitfall of Resume-Driven Development.