adr-maintenance

You can document architecture decisions by creating structured architecture decision records that capture context, tradeoffs, consequences, and reproducible verification commands. This ensures your software architecture changes remain clear and traceable over time.

An architecture decision record is used to prevent architectural decisions from becoming undocumented or ambiguous. It provides a structured entry containing the context, tradeoffs, and follow-up tracking needed to preserve the reasoning behind package boundary updates and behavior contract changes.

To maintain decision traceability when updating package boundaries, you use structured records to link the architectural decisions directly to implementation files, tests, and verification evidence. This preserves the reasoning and ensures behavior contract changes are fully documented.

A structured architecture decision record should include the decision context, tradeoffs, consequences, verification commands, implementation links, and follow-up tracking. These entries ensure that architectural changes and their supporting evidence remain clear and traceable.

You need to create an architecture decision record when making software architecture changes, updating package boundaries, or modifying behavior contracts that require traceability. It documents the decision and preserves the supporting evidence and reasoning behind the change.

Yes, you can update existing architecture decision records without losing previous context by maintaining consistent status entries. The records are designed to be drafted and updated while preserving the original context, tradeoffs, and verification details throughout the software lifecycle.