Interface-centric

Interface-centric describes a design or approach that prioritizes and revolves around the interfaces, connections, and interactions between different components, systems, or entities. This methodology emphasizes the importance of clear, well-defined, and efficient communication protocols to ensure seamless integration, data exchange, and overall functionality. It places less emphasis on the internal workings of individual elements and more on how they interact with one another. It aims for modularity, reusability, and ease of modification by focusing on the 'what' (the interface) rather than the 'how' (the implementation details) for each piece. Successful interface-centric design fosters adaptability and allows for independent development and evolution of components.

Interface-centric meaning with examples

• In software development, an interface-centric architecture, like microservices, allows different teams to independently build and deploy services. Each service has well-defined APIs (interfaces) for communication, ensuring compatibility regardless of internal implementation changes. This enhances scalability and simplifies maintenance.
• A network protocol, built interface-centrically, such as TCP/IP, focuses on how data packets are transmitted and received. The protocol details define how data is formatted and addressed but not on the underlying hardware or specific implementations, enabling communication across diverse hardware.
• Human-computer interaction designs are interface-centric when they focus on ease of user interaction. Features like buttons, menus, and touchscreens focus on how a user inputs and receives information, rather than the underlying code of the software.
• In hardware design, an interface-centric approach creates standardized connectors like USB. Devices use the same interface, regardless of internal designs. This promotes plug-and-play functionality, allowing easy integration of different devices.
• A business process, built with interface-centricity, would be structured around the data that is exchanged between different departments and functions. Each department would have clear methods for transferring data regardless of how it manages it.