architecture-decision-record

An architecture decision record (ADR) documents architectural choices and their rationale to ensure traceability and future maintainability. You need an ADR when making significant architectural decisions that require cross-team alignment and auditable records.

Standardize architecture documentation by using MADR-style templates to consistently record problem statements, drivers, options, outcomes, and evidence. This ensures all architecture decisions follow a uniform structure for maintainability.

Backfill or supersede an architecture decision record by following the lifecycle guidance defined in your project's local conventions. This workflow ensures old ADRs are properly updated or marked as superseded while maintaining traceability.

Yes, creating MADR-style architecture decision records requires a local convention for ADR templates, references, and lifecycle guidance. This local setup ensures decisions capture problem statements, options, outcomes, and evidence consistently.

The best way to review architecture decisions for maintainability is using a standardized ADR workflow. This involves evaluating the recorded problem statement, drivers, options, outcomes, and evidence against project conventions to ensure traceability.

ADRs rely on consistent adherence to local conventions for templates and lifecycle guidance. Without establishing these conventions first, architectural traceability and cross-team alignment will remain difficult despite recording individual decisions.