What is High-Level Design Document?

A High-Level Design document is a technical document that outlines the overall architecture and design of a software system at a high level. It serves as a blueprint for developers, architects, and stakeholders to understand the structure, components, and interactions of the system without delving into implementation details.

The High-Level Design document typically includes:

• System Architecture: Description of the overall architecture of the system, including the various layers, components, and subsystems that comprise the system. This may include client-side components, server-side components, databases, external APIs, and third-party services.
• Key Components and Modules: Identification and description of the major components and modules of the system, along with their responsibilities, interactions, and dependencies. This helps stakeholders understand the overall structure and functionality of the system.
• Data Flow and Control Flow: Overview of how data flows through the system and how control is transferred between different components and modules. This may include high-level diagrams or descriptions of data pipelines, message queues, event-driven architectures, or other data processing mechanisms.
• Interfaces and APIs: Specification of the interfaces and APIs exposed by the system, including the methods, parameters, data formats, and protocols used for communication between different components. This helps ensure interoperability and integration with other systems or services.
• External Dependencies: Identification of external dependencies, including third-party libraries, frameworks, APIs, and services that the system relies on. This may include considerations for licensing, compatibility, and versioning of external dependencies.
• Scalability and Performance Considerations: Discussion of scalability and performance requirements, constraints, and considerations for the system. This may include discussions on horizontal and vertical scaling, load balancing, caching, and optimization techniques.