Tightly Coupled Design
Tightly coupled design is a software architecture pattern where components or modules in a system have high interdependencies, meaning changes in one component often require modifications in others. It typically involves direct references, shared state, or rigid connections between parts, which can reduce flexibility and increase maintenance complexity. This approach contrasts with loosely coupled designs that promote modularity and independent development.
Developers should understand tightly coupled design to recognize its pitfalls, such as difficulty in testing, scaling, and modifying code, which often leads to technical debt and reduced agility. It is primarily used in legacy systems or simple applications where rapid prototyping is prioritized over long-term maintainability, but learning it helps in refactoring efforts towards more modular architectures like microservices or event-driven systems.