Building Smarter: AI in the SDLC & the Art of Architecture Diagrams

About the Event
This month we're covering two topics that together paint a picture of where software development is headed. We'll hear from two Gartner experts — first diving into how AI is reshaping the SDLC, then getting a practical look at creating effective architecture diagrams. Come ready to learn and connect with others navigating the same landscape.

Topic 1: Outlook - AI in the SDLC: Trends and Implications for Solution Architecture
Speaker: Howard Dodd, Gartner
As AI continues to influence and reshape the SDLC this Outlook provides a quick take on the trends like vibe coding, SDD, AI Code Reviews, Architecture tradeoffs and implications. The practice of software engineering is changing to accommodate our new AI partners and co-creators. Tracking the trends helps us be prepared for building solutions.

Topic 2: "Creating Architecture Diagrams"
Speaker: Kevin Methany, Gartner
A software architecture diagram is worth at least a thousand words. You want to make sure they're good words, not bad ones. This talk shares five key practices for creating useful, readable architecture diagrams that won't make your readers want to swear.

About our speakers:
Howard lives at the intersection of strategy, architecture, software, and people — translating complex technical situations into practical direction and helping organizations move forward. At Gartner, his research challenges prevailing industry narratives around software strategy, modernization, technical debt, and AI diffusion. He brings these ideas to life in keynotes, conferences, and practitioner forums around the world.

Kevin Matheny is fascinated by the practice of architecture: how to make better decisions, how to capture key information, and how to create useful documentation. He works for Gartner as a research analyst covering those topics as well as API design and management, distributed architecture patterns and agile methods.

This event is hosted and sponsored by Improving