architecture

To write an architecture decision record, structure your system design choices with context, alternatives, and consequences. This process captures technology selection trade-offs, constraints, and follow-up actions into a clear, documented ADR.

Trade-off analysis for software architecture is a structured comparison of viable options like monolith vs services or build vs buy. It evaluates explicit pros and cons against non-functional constraints such as cost, scalability, and delivery timeline.

Conduct a design review by assessing existing architecture proposals against constraints like cost, scalability, and team familiarity. This evaluates component design choices and documents consequences to ensure the system design meets delivery timeline requirements.

You need an ADR for technology selection and component design when a system has multiple viable options, unclear trade-offs, or important non-functional constraints. It turns vague design discussions into structured decision records with follow-up actions.

Yes, you can compare queueing approaches like Kafka vs SQS. The trade-off evaluation provides a structured comparison of options, capturing the final decision and recording follow-up implementation actions for your notification system.

ADRs for platform direction require clearly defined non-functional constraints and viable alternatives to be effective. Limitations arise when system design options lack explicit trade-offs or when team familiarity and delivery timelines are not properly documented.