Technology Quote by Vaughn Vernon
““Prefer references to external Aggregates only by their globally unique identity, not by holding a direct object reference (or “pointer”).””
About This Quote
Source Article: EventStorming and Domain Modeling, 2018
Reference objects should be identified by unique IDs rather than direct pointers to avoid tight coupling.
In simple terms: Use IDs, not object references.
Key Takeaway
Design loosely coupled systems.
Themes
software design
domain modeling
references
decoupling
Mood
technical
practical
Type
guideline
instructional
When to use this quote
- microservices
- distributed systems
- event sourcing
Key Concepts
software architecture
data integrity
system design
Questions to Reflect On
- How will you manage ID resolution efficiently?
- What trade‑offs exist between performance and decoupling?
A Different Perspective
ID-based references can add complexity in navigation.
