Introduction to software architecture research

I got an e-mail form one of the master's student at the Software Engineering & Management program who wanted to know more about research on software architecture. Here is my reply...

Some websites of interest:

http://www.sei.cmu.edu/architecture/index.html
The homepage of the most well-known research groups on software architecture. You can for example look at their "essential bookshelf":
http://www.sei.cmu.edu/architecture/essential_collection.html

http://www.handbookofsoftwarearchitecture.com/
Grady Booch's (of UML fame) website about architecture. You need to register to access the entire website.

http://www.janbosch.com/
Jan Bosch' website, one of the foremost researchers in Europe. Check out his publication list. He has written several "overview" articles as well.

You should also be familiar with ISO/IEC-standard 42010 "Recommended Practice for Architectural Description of Software-intensive Systems" (identical to IEEE Std 1471-2000)

http://www.amazon.com/Software-Architecture-Practice-2nd-Engineering/dp/0321154959
This is the standard textbook about software architecture. If you want an undergraduate text I would recommend
http://www.amazon.com/Software-Architecture-Primer-John-Reekie/dp/0646458418/ref=pd_sim_b_6

http://www.amazon.com/Documenting-Software-Architectures-Beyond-Engineering/dp/0201703726
The best (and only?) book about documenting software architectures

http://www.amazon.com/Design-Patterns-Object-Oriented-Addison-Wesley/Professional/dp/0201633612
For an architect I would recommend the following book instead:
http://www.amazon.com/Pattern-Oriented-Software-Architecture-System-Patterns/dp/0471958697/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228480692&sr=1-1
There are 5 volumes, but the book everybody refers to is vol. 1

For software product lines I'm most familiar with
http://www.amazon.com/Design-Use-Software-Architectures-Product-Line/dp/0201674947/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228480867&sr=1-1
and
http://www.amazon.com/Software-Architecture-Product-Families-Principles/dp/0201699672/ref=cm_lmf_tit_8_rdssss0

But there seem to be recent texts, such as:
http://www.amazon.com/Software-Product-Lines-Practices-Engineering/dp/0201703327/ref=pd_sim_b_2
and
http://www.amazon.com/Software-Product-Lines-Action-Engineering/dp/3540714367/ref=pd_cp_b_1?pf_rd_p=413864201&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=3540243720&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1KC7RGT8ZATZCWGSE3MM

Hope this helps!