---

In the software development life cycle, changes are inevitable. The software system evolves as changes in the environment and requirements are incorporated in the system. If these changes are not managed properly, the architecture of the software deteriorates and leads to architecture erosion. This study is an effort to address the problem of architecture erosion and to keep the software architecture live and up to date. In this study we propose a method to minimize or avoid architecture erosion. It is based on the concept of architecture vision that is the ideal representation of the architecture of the software in hand. All the activities of this method revolve around the efforts to keep the architecture of the software aligned with an architecture vision. The iterative nature of the method and synchronization of the implemented architecture with the architecture vision helps to detect and reduce architecture erosion. This method does not conflict with or replaces any development or management process or method (like RUP, agile, water fall etc), but exists parallel to them.

---