architecture-decision-records

You document architecture decisions using Architecture Decision Records (ADRs) to capture the context, rationale, and consequences of significant technology choices, design patterns, and governance practices. This ensures traceability and historical context across teams.

Managing the lifecycle of an architecture decision record requires standardized templates, an ADR index, and defined processes for creation, review, and supersession to track decision dependencies and governance over time.

To create a new ADR, place it in the docs/adr directory using the MADR template, then update the centralized ADR index to track the new decision and its dependencies across the project architecture.

You need architecture decision records when making significant architectural choices that require clear traceability, such as selecting technology stacks or establishing governance, to provide structured context and rationale for future teams.

Superseding an architecture decision record involves applying lifecycle guidance to formally review and replace the previous decision, updating the centralized ADR index to reflect the new governance context and dependencies.

Yes, you can track dependencies across multiple architecture decisions by maintaining a centralized ADR index, which provides governance and historical context by mapping relationships between recorded technology choices and design patterns.