Clean Architecture Best Practices

Comprehensive guide to Clean Architecture principles for designing maintainable, testable software systems. Based on Robert C. Martin's "Clean Architecture: A Craftsman's Guide to Software Structure and Design." Contains 42 rules across 8 categories, prioritized by architectural impact.

When to Apply

Reference these guidelines when:

• Designing new software systems or modules

• Structuring dependencies between layers

• Defining boundaries between business logic and infrastructure

• Reviewing code for architectural violations

• Refactoring coupled systems toward cleaner structure

Rule Categories by Priority

Priority

Category

Impact

Prefix

1

Dependency Direction

CRITICAL

dep-

2

Entity Design

CRITICAL

entity-

3

Use Case Isolation

HIGH

usecase-

4

Component Cohesion

HIGH

comp-

5

Boundary Definition

MEDIUM-HIGH

bound-

6

Interface Adapters

MEDIUM

adapt-

7

Framework Isolation

MEDIUM

frame-

8

Testing Architecture

LOW-MEDIUM

test-

Quick Reference

1. Dependency Direction (CRITICAL)

• dep-inward-only - Source dependencies point inward only

• dep-interface-ownership - Interfaces belong to clients not implementers

• dep-no-framework-imports - Avoid framework imports in inner layers

• dep-data-crossing-boundaries - Use simple data structures across boundaries

• dep-acyclic-dependencies - Eliminate cyclic dependencies between components

• dep-stable-abstractions - Depend on stable abstractions not volatile concretions

2. Entity Design (CRITICAL)

• entity-pure-business-rules - Entities contain only enterprise business rules

• entity-no-persistence-awareness - Entities must not know how they are persisted

• entity-encapsulate-invariants - Encapsulate business invariants within entities

• entity-value-objects - Use value objects for domain concepts

• entity-rich-not-anemic - Build rich domain models not anemic data structures

3. Use Case Isolation (HIGH)

• usecase-single-responsibility - Each use case has one reason to change

• usecase-input-output-ports - Define input and output ports for use cases

• usecase-orchestrates-not-implements - Use cases orchestrate entities not implement business rules

• usecase-no-presentation-logic - Use cases must not contain presentation logic

• usecase-explicit-dependencies - Declare all dependencies explicitly in constructor

• usecase-transaction-boundary - Use case defines the transaction boundary

4. Component Cohesion (HIGH)

• comp-screaming-architecture - Structure should scream the domain not the framework

• comp-common-closure - Group classes that change together

• comp-common-reuse - Avoid forcing clients to depend on unused code

• comp-reuse-release-equivalence - Release components as cohesive units

• comp-stable-dependencies - Depend in the direction of stability

5. Boundary Definition (MEDIUM-HIGH)

• bound-humble-object - Use humble objects at architectural boundaries

• bound-partial-boundaries - Use partial boundaries when full separation is premature

• bound-boundary-cost-awareness - Weigh boundary cost against ignorance cost

• bound-main-component - Treat main as a plugin to the application

• bound-defer-decisions - Defer framework and database decisions

• bound-service-internal-architecture - Services must have internal clean architecture

6. Interface Adapters (MEDIUM)

• adapt-controller-thin - Keep controllers thin

• adapt-presenter-formats - Presenters format data for the view

• adapt-gateway-abstraction - Gateways hide external system details

• adapt-mapper-translation - Use mappers to translate between layers

• adapt-anti-corruption-layer - Build anti-corruption layers for external systems

7. Framework Isolation (MEDIUM)

• frame-domain-purity - Domain layer has zero framework dependencies

• frame-orm-in-infrastructure - Keep ORM usage in infrastructure layer

• frame-web-in-infrastructure - Web framework concerns stay in interface layer

• frame-di-container-edge - Dependency injection containers live at the edge

• frame-logging-abstraction - Abstract logging behind domain interfaces

8. Testing Architecture (LOW-MEDIUM)

• test-tests-are-architecture - Tests are part of the system architecture

• test-testable-design - Design for testability from the start

• test-layer-isolation - Test each layer in isolation

• test-boundary-verification - Verify architectural boundaries with tests

How to Use

Read individual reference files for detailed explanations and code examples:

• Section definitions - Category structure and impact levels

• Rule template - Template for adding new rules

Reference Files

File

Description

references/_sections.md

Category definitions and ordering

assets/templates/_template.md

Template for new rules

metadata.json

Version and reference information