Sub-Agent Architecture Reviewer Command

June 19, 2025 · View on GitHub

Analyzes system architecture, detects violations, suggests improvements, and generates visual documentation using multiple specialized sub-agents.

Command Syntax

sub-agent-architecture-reviewer [target] [options]

# Aliases
@architecture-review [target] [options]
@arch-review [target] [options]
@saar [target] [options]

Parameters

  • target - Directory to analyze (defaults to current directory)
  • --visualize - Generate architecture diagrams (default: true)
  • --detect-violations - Check for architecture anti-patterns
  • --suggest-improvements - Provide refactoring suggestions
  • --style - Architecture style (layered, hexagonal, microservices, mvc)
  • --output - Output format (text, markdown, mermaid, plantuml)
  • --depth - Analysis depth (shallow, standard, deep)
  • --rules - Custom architecture rules file

Examples

# Basic architecture review
@architecture-review

# Full analysis with violations
@arch-review src/ --detect-violations --suggest-improvements

# Generate diagrams for specific style
@architecture-review --style hexagonal --visualize --output mermaid

# Check against custom rules
@arch-review . --rules .architecture-rules.yaml

Agent Orchestration

Stage 1: Analysis Agents (Parallel)

Agent 1: Dependency Mapper

Map all dependencies in [TARGET]

Tasks:
1. File Dependencies:
   - Import/require statements
   - Dynamic imports
   - Lazy loading patterns
   - Circular dependencies

2. Package Dependencies:
   - Direct dependencies
   - Transitive dependencies
   - Version conflicts
   - Unused packages

3. Layer Dependencies:
   - Cross-layer references
   - Proper layer isolation
   - Dependency direction
   - Interface boundaries

4. Service Dependencies:
   - API dependencies
   - Database connections
   - External services
   - Message queues

Return:
- Dependency graph data
- Circular dependency list
- Layer violation report
- Service coupling metrics

Agent 2: Pattern Analyzer

Analyze architectural patterns in [TARGET]

Tasks:
1. Design Patterns:
   - Repository pattern usage
   - Service layer implementation
   - Factory patterns
   - Observer patterns
   - Strategy patterns

2. Architecture Style:
   - MVC compliance
   - Hexagonal architecture
   - Clean architecture
   - Domain-driven design
   - Microservices patterns

3. Code Organization:
   - Module boundaries
   - Package structure
   - Naming conventions
   - Folder organization

4. Framework Patterns:
   - React: Container/Presentational
   - Laravel: Service providers
   - WordPress: Plugin architecture
   - Cloudflare: Worker patterns

Return:
- Pattern usage report
- Style compliance score
- Organization assessment
- Best practice adherence

Agent 3: Complexity Analyzer

Analyze architectural complexity in [TARGET]

Tasks:
1. Structural Complexity:
   - Component coupling
   - Cohesion metrics
   - Abstraction levels
   - Interface complexity

2. Data Flow Complexity:
   - Data transformation layers
   - State management
   - Event flows
   - Message passing

3. Integration Complexity:
   - API surface area
   - External dependencies
   - Database complexity
   - Service interactions

4. Cognitive Complexity:
   - Understanding difficulty
   - Onboarding complexity
   - Documentation needs
   - Mental model clarity

Return:
- Complexity hotspots
- Simplification opportunities
- Refactoring priorities
- Cognitive load assessment

Stage 2: Synthesis Agent

Synthesize architecture analysis from all agents: [ANALYSIS_RESULTS]

Tasks:
1. Architecture Overview:
   - Current architecture style
   - Key components and layers
   - Integration points
   - Technology stack summary

2. Violation Detection:
   - Layer violations
   - Circular dependencies
   - Anti-patterns
   - Style inconsistencies

3. Quality Metrics:
   - Coupling/cohesion scores
   - Maintainability index
   - Technical debt assessment
   - Architecture fitness

4. Improvement Roadmap:
   - Priority improvements
   - Refactoring strategies
   - Migration paths
   - Quick wins

Generate:
- Architecture documentation
- Violation report
- Improvement roadmap
- Visual diagrams

Stage 3: Visualization Agent

Generate architecture visualizations from synthesis: [ARCHITECTURE_DATA]

Diagrams to Generate:
1. Component Diagram:
   - High-level components
   - Dependencies
   - Interfaces
   - External systems

2. Layer Diagram:
   - Architecture layers
   - Layer boundaries
   - Allowed dependencies
   - Violations highlighted

3. Sequence Diagrams:
   - Key workflows
   - Service interactions
   - Data flows
   - API calls

4. Deployment Diagram:
   - Infrastructure layout
   - Service locations
   - Network boundaries
   - Scaling points

Output formats:
- Mermaid diagrams
- PlantUML
- ASCII art
- SVG/PNG exports

Output Examples

Architecture Overview (Markdown)

# Architecture Analysis Report

## Overview
- **Style**: Hexagonal Architecture with DDD
- **Layers**: 4 (Presentation, Application, Domain, Infrastructure)
- **Components**: 23 major components
- **Health Score**: 78/100

## Key Findings
### ✅ Strengths
- Clear domain boundaries
- Good service abstraction
- Consistent patterns

### ⚠️ Violations
1. **Layer Violation**: DirectDB access from Controller (3 instances)
2. **Circular Dependency**: UserService ↔ AuthService
3. **God Class**: OrderService (500+ lines, 15 dependencies)

## Improvement Roadmap
1. Extract OrderService into smaller services (2 days)
2. Fix circular dependencies (1 day)
3. Move DB access to repositories (1 day)

Mermaid Component Diagram

graph TB
    subgraph Presentation
        UI[React UI]
        API[API Gateway]
    end
    
    subgraph Application
        US[UserService]
        OS[OrderService]
        AS[AuthService]
    end
    
    subgraph Domain
        UM[User Model]
        OM[Order Model]
    end
    
    subgraph Infrastructure
        DB[(Database)]
        Redis[(Cache)]
        S3[File Storage]
    end
    
    UI --> API
    API --> US
    API --> OS
    US --> AS
    AS --> US
    US --> UM
    OS --> OM
    UM --> DB
    OM --> DB
    AS --> Redis
    
    style AS fill:#f96,stroke:#333,stroke-width:4px
    style US fill:#f96,stroke:#333,stroke-width:4px

Architecture Rules Configuration

.architecture-rules.yaml

rules:
  layers:
    - name: Presentation
      allowedDependencies: [Application]
      forbidden: [Infrastructure, Database]
    
    - name: Application
      allowedDependencies: [Domain]
      forbidden: [Infrastructure.Database]
    
    - name: Domain
      allowedDependencies: []
      forbidden: [Application, Presentation, Infrastructure]
    
    - name: Infrastructure
      allowedDependencies: [Domain]
      forbidden: [Application, Presentation]
  
  complexity:
    maxComponentDependencies: 7
    maxLayerDepth: 4
    maxCircularDependencies: 0
  
  patterns:
    required: [Repository, Service]
    forbidden: [Singleton, GlobalState]

Integration Examples

VS Code Extension

{
  "command": "claude.architectureReview",
  "title": "Review Architecture",
  "key": "cmd+shift+a"
}

CI/CD Pipeline

architecture-check:
  script:
    - @architecture-review --detect-violations
    - if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then exit 1; fi
  artifacts:
    paths:
      - architecture-report.md
      - diagrams/

Git Hook

#!/bin/bash
# Check architecture before merge
@architecture-review --quick --detect-violations

Best Practices

  1. Regular Reviews: Run monthly architecture reviews
  2. Track Metrics: Monitor architecture health score
  3. Document Decisions: Use ADRs (Architecture Decision Records)
  4. Automate Checks: Add to CI/CD pipeline
  5. Visualize Changes: Generate diagrams for PRs
  6. Define Rules: Create project-specific architecture rules