architecture-decision-records

Documenting architectural decisions is done by creating standardized ADR markdown files that capture context, alternatives, and consequences to maintain a clear project rationale history.

An ADR is an Architecture Decision Record used during system design and review processes to promote transparency by logging the context, alternatives, and outcomes of a specific architectural choice.

You can retrieve past architectural decisions by reading existing ADRs, which facilitates understanding past choices and provides summaries of the context and outcomes for development teams.

Managing an ongoing index of architecture decision records requires creating standardized ADR markdown files and maintaining that index to track system design decisions over time.

You do not need any specific frameworks to start logging software architecture decisions, as the process relies on creating standalone markdown files without external dependencies.

Using ADRs instead of general documentation automates consistency and clarity by structuring context, alternatives, and consequences into discrete files for every architectural decision.