This relationship type refers to the situation where two or more bounded contexts are so different in their purpose, language, or domain that they cannot or should not be integrated or aligned with each other. In other words, they need to go their separate ways and remain independent of each other. This decision is usually made when it becomes clear that the benefits of trying to align or integrate the bounded contexts are outweighed by the costs or risks involved. In such cases, the teams responsible for each bounded context should focus on their own domain, language, and model, and avoid dependencies or assumptions about the other bounded contexts.

Implications

The pros and cons of going separate ways include:

Pros

• Improved maintainability: Smaller, more focused components are easier to maintain, modify, and scale.
• Clear boundaries: Each bounded context has well-defined boundaries, which helps prevent confusion and conflicting requirements.
• Independent deployment: Bounded contexts can be deployed and tested independently, which can speed up development and deployment cycles.
• Encourages domain-driven design: The process of creating bounded contexts can help teams focus on the core domain concepts and ensure that each component aligns with the overall business goals.

Cons

• Increased complexity: Dividing a system into multiple bounded contexts can create additional complexity, as developers must manage the interactions and communication between the components.
• Potential for duplicated efforts: Different teams may need to develop similar functionality within their respective bounded contexts, which can lead to duplicated efforts and increased maintenance costs.
• Integration challenges: As bounded contexts evolve and change over time, it can be challenging to integrate them into the larger system, especially if the interactions between components are complex.
• Increased coordination: Effective coordination and communication between teams is critical to ensure that each bounded context aligns with the overall business goals and works seamlessly with other components.

Going separate ways can be an effective approach to managing complex systems, but it requires careful planning and coordination to ensure that each bounded context works well with others and aligns with the overall business goals.