What does the 4+1 methodology primarily illustrate?

The 4+1 methodology primarily illustrates different views for software and systems. This approach, developed by Philippe Kruchten, emphasizes the importance of representing a software architecture through multiple perspectives. These perspectives include logical, development, process, and physical views, along with the use case view, which serves as the central component that ties them all together.

By utilizing these views, architects can address the diverse concerns of various stakeholders such as developers, system engineers, domain experts, and project managers. Each view focuses on a specific aspect of the system, enabling a comprehensive understanding of how the system will be structured and how it will operate within its environment. This methodology ensures that all critical components of the architecture are captured and documented, facilitating better communication and alignment across teams working on the project.

The other options, while related to software development in their own right, do not encapsulate the core purpose of the 4+1 methodology. For instance, programming paradigms belong to a broader discussion of coding practices, database schemas pertain specifically to data organization, and testing methodologies focus solely on validation processes rather than architectural representation.