Arrow-First Thinking: Applying Category Theory to API and System Architecture
By
ibrahimcesar
Baker's choice. Dense with flavour, light on filler.
Summary
The article advocates for a paradigm shift in API and system design from traditional entity-first thinking to relationship-first thinking inspired by category theory. It argues that instead of focusing on boxes (services, databases, components), architects should focus on arrows (relationships, contracts, transformations between things). The author introduces the concept of 'arrow-first thinking' where the arrows themselves become the architecture, emphasizing that contracts and relationships should be designed before the entities they connect. This approach helps avoid the 'Entity Trap' where design discussions get stuck on object definitions rather than the transformations between them.
Key quotes
· 5 pulledTraditional architecture starts with boxes: services, databases, components. Categorical architecture starts with arrows: the relationships, contracts, and transformations between things.
The arrows are the architecture.
Stop designing services. Start designing contracts.
This shift from entity-first to relationship-first thinking transforms how we design systems.
They focus on objects when we should focus on morphisms.
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