architecture

You document architecture decisions by creating an Architecture Decision Record (ADR) that captures the context, chosen solution, options considered, trade-offs, consequences, and action items. This structured approach ensures design choices are recorded for future reference.

An ADR is a lightweight record that captures the context, options, rationale, and outcomes of a design choice. You need to write one when evaluating technology options, system designs, or component proposals to prevent ad-hoc changes and align teams.

To analyze trade-offs between technology options, you evaluate each choice within a structured ADR format. This involves documenting the context, comparing the options, and explicitly recording the consequences and action items for the selected solution.

Yes, you can use the ADR template for evaluating component proposals across multiple projects. It provides a repeatable structure to capture design choices and trade-offs, applicable to various system designs and technology evaluations.

Teams make system design decisions in silos when there is no repeatable process to capture context. You fix this by implementing ADRs to document design choices, trade-offs, and outcomes, ensuring alignment and knowledge reuse.