Supporting Architectural Decision Making on Training Strategies in Reinforcement Learning Architectures

In the dynamic landscape of artificial intelligence and machine learning, Reinforcement Learning (RL) has emerged as a powerful paradigm for training intelligent agents in sequential decision-making. As RL architectures progress in complexity, the need for informed decision-making regarding training strategies and related consequences on the software architecture becomes increasingly intricate. This work addresses this challenge by presenting the outcomes of a qualitative, in-depth study focused on best practices and patterns within training strategies for RL architectures, as articulated by practitioners. Leveraging a model-based qualitative research method, we introduce a formal architecture decision model to bridge the gap between scientific insights and practical implementation. We aim to enhance the understanding of practitioners' approaches in RL architecture. The paper analyzes 33 knowledge sources to discern established industrial practices, patterns, relationships, and decision drivers. Based on this knowledge, we introduce a formal Architectural Design Decision (ADD) model, encapsulating 6 decisions, 29 decision options, and 19 decision drivers, providing robust decision-making support for this critical facet of RL-based software architectures.