architecture

Document architecture decisions using a structured ADR framework to capture context, compare alternatives, and record rationale. This approach provides templates and validation checklists to guide teams through capturing choices and consequences during system redesign.

An Architecture Decision Record (ADR) is a structured document that captures context, alternatives, decisions, and consequences for a technical choice. You need an ADR when making significant technology migrations, multi-team coordination choices, or system design trade-offs that require durable rationale.

Compare technology options and trade-offs using a structured decision-making framework that guides context gathering and option comparison. The framework provides pattern references and templates to ensure teams evaluate alternatives systematically and document the resulting governance artifacts.

ADR practices are fully applicable to multi-team migration planning and coordination. The framework supplies decision records and reading rules that help distributed teams align on context, alternatives, and consequences, ensuring governance artifacts remain consistent across initiatives.

A limitation of using ADR templates is that architecture decision-making remains ad hoc without enforcing structured reading rules and validation checklists. The framework mitigates this by providing pattern references, but teams must consistently apply the templates to capture rationale effectively.

The best way to generate an ADR plan for a new feature is prompting AI to follow a structured ADR framework with embedded templates. This guides context gathering, option comparison, and rationale documentation to produce complete decision records and governance artifacts.