Axiom Refract vs ArchUnit
Architecture tests enforce rules — they do not discover them
ArchUnit is a Java testing library that lets developers write unit tests for architectural rules — verifying layer dependencies, naming conventions, and package boundaries. It is powerful for enforcing known rules but cannot discover architectural risks or produce governance records.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Axiom Refract | ArchUnit |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture Governance | ✓ | ✓ |
| SPOF Detection | ✓ | — |
| Blast Radius Analysis | ✓ | — |
| Dead Code Detection | ✓ | — |
| Dependency Mapping | ✓ | ✓ |
| Compliance Mapping | ✓ | — |
| MCP/AI Agent Integration | ✓ | — |
| Multi-Language (145+) | ✓ | — |
| C4 Diagram Generation | ✓ | — |
| Supply Chain Audit | ✓ | — |
Where ArchUnit Falls Short
- Java and JVM only — no support for polyglot codebases
- Requires developers to write and maintain test rules manually — no automated discovery
- No visual output, no compliance mapping, no multi-format deliverables
What Axiom Refract Does Differently
Discovery vs. Enforcement
Axiom automatically discovers SPOFs, dead code, coupling, and risk. ArchUnit enforces rules that humans must write first — it cannot find what nobody thought to test.
Universal Language Support
Axiom parses 145+ languages. ArchUnit works only within the JVM ecosystem.
Stakeholder Output
Axiom produces reports for engineers, auditors, and AI agents simultaneously. ArchUnit produces pass/fail test results for developers only.
Who Should Consider Axiom Refract
Java teams using ArchUnit for rule enforcement that need automated architectural discovery, risk quantification, and compliance evidence across their full stack — not just the JVM components.
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