The Tao of Architecture: Clearing the Fog of "Names" to Return to the Essence of "Non-Being"

#systemdesign #discuss #softwareengineering #architecture

Introduction: The Ultimate Challenge of Architecture Lies Beyond Code

The most complex aspect of system architecture is never writing code—it is clearly and precisely understanding, analyzing, and solving problems .

In real-world software engineering, product managers, developers, and business stakeholders often have vastly different understandings and descriptions of the same business scenario. This "Tower of Babel of cognition" is the root cause of system decay and architectural collapse.

The wisdom Laozi left at the beginning of the Tao Te Ching happens to be the highest guiding principle for solving this architectural challenge.

Part 1: Breaking Dogma — "The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name."

Original Text : "The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name."

Core Insight : Beware of the traps of "empiricism" and "pseudo-concepts."

In system architecture, the "Tao" can be understood as the true laws of business , while the "name" refers to the technical models, terminologies, or frameworks we use to describe the business.

1. Principles (Best Practices) Are Not Eternal

We often regard microservices, mid-platforms, and distributed systems as "golden rules" (the eternal Tao). However, a true architect understands that no architectural pattern is universally applicable.

Reflection : Yesterday’s "Tao" (e.g., monolithic applications being seen as outdated) might be today’s "optimal solution" for rapid iteration at a small scale. Architects must possess critical thinking , remain unswayed by technological trends, and see beyond the surface to grasp the essence.

2. Names (Definitions and Descriptions) Are Not Eternal

During requirement analysis, we最容易 fall into the trap of "names." When a user says, "I need an Excel export," this is the "name" they provide.

Insight : If we only hear the "name," we might simply write an export function. But if we delve into the underlying "Tao," we may discover that their real problem is "the need for pivot table analysis."
Action : Identify the real problem, not just solve the superficially "named" problem. True architectural design involves looking past vague linguistic descriptions (names) to capture the flowing essence of the business (Tao).

Part 2: The Leap in Cognition — "Nameless, the origin of heaven and earth; named, the mother of all things."

Original Text : "Nameless, the origin of heaven and earth; named, the mother of all things."

Core Insight : Freely switch between "inheriting experience" and "first principles."

An architect’s caliber depends on their ability to transition between "being" and "non-being."

1. The Named: The Power of Inheritance and Standardization (The Mother of All Things)

"The named" represents existing knowledge systems, design patterns, and open-source frameworks .

Value : All descriptions and experiences are summaries and inductions from predecessors. When solving conventional problems, we should respect and utilize these "names" (e.g., adopting the mature OAuth 2.0 protocol or using the Spring framework).
Role : This is the foundation of engineering, enabling us to stand on the shoulders of giants and quickly give birth to all things (software systems).

2. The Nameless: Innovation by Returning to Essence (The Origin of Heaven and Earth)

"The nameless" represents undefined states, chaotic requirements, and first principles .

Value : When existing frameworks (the named) fail to solve complex problems or when systems have become too burdensome, we must not be confined by the status quo.
Action : We need to empty our minds of preconceived notions and return to a state of "non-being"—that is, first principles .
- Question: Setting aside all concepts of microservices and cloud-native, what is the most fundamental data flow of this business?
- Restructure: Free yourself from the constraints of existing code structures (the named) and re-derive the architecture from the source of the business (the nameless).

Conclusion: The Architect’s "Unity of Knowledge and Action"

The process of system architecture is a practice of moving from "non-being" to "being," and then examining whether the "being" aligns with the "Tao."

When facing chaotic requirements , we must use the reflection of "The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao" to strip away the and define the core problem.
When devising solutions , we should skillfully use the experience of "the named" to improve efficiency, but also have the courage to return to the origin of "the nameless" and reshape the system using first principles.

A true architect is both a craftsman who skillfully wields tools (adhering to names) and a philosopher who dares to break definitions (embracing non-being).