Framework -- Architecture

[Vinod Chamoli]

What is the difference between Framework & Architecture.
Thanks.

[Michal Harezlak]

Originally posted by Vinod Chamoli:
What is the difference between Framework & Architecture.
Thanks.

It is rather a question of semantics. IMHO: Architecture is a set of frameworks and the interfaces between them. They are really very similar conceptually but architecture contains frameworks. You can speak of architecture of a framework. In very remote way it is like building architecture that encompasses all the sub systems (electrical, air, plumbing, telephone, TV and such) of the building.
Hope that helps.

[Lasse Koskela]

Another difference is that while an architecture is purely abstract, a framework includes something concrete (for example, working code and not just interfaces).

[Stan James]

Just to muddy the waters a bit ... many people define frameworks to have some special properties around "inversion of control". For example, when we switched from writing procedural C code to event driven Java code we gave up control during all the times the user is moving the mouse, typing in edit boxes, etc. The Swing framework calls us when events like button clicks happen. Frameworks tend to provide the basic structure of processing and call application code when they need information or think you deserve a chance to run a few lines of code. In contrast, "libraries" tend to deliver functional bits you can call without taking control from you. Hope that's useful.