Microservice Design Space Analysis and Decision Documentation: A Case Study on API Management

Design space analysis is a method for identifying and organizing potential design options and related concepts. So far, we have used decision models for design space analysis of various areas of microservice-design. Based on the feedback we received, we refined our approach for design space analysis and extended it to support decision documentation. To validate the refined design space analysis approach and the approach we developed for decision documentation, we conducted a case study on microservice API management together with an industry partner. We present the identified design spaces, the decision models created during design space analysis, and show how the decision models were used for decision documentation. In addition, we draw general conclusions from applying the presented approach and concepts in an industrial context.