documentation-and-adrs

Document architecture decisions by creating an Architecture Decision Record (ADR) that captures context, options, and trade-offs. This ensures future engineers understand why technology selections and system boundaries were chosen rather than just what changed.

The best way to structure an ADR for API changes is to use a standard ADR format that includes option comparisons and future implications. Store the decision record sequentially under docs/adr/ to maintain traceability across engineering projects.

You need to write an ADR when major architectural decisions are made, such as selecting patterns or defining system boundaries. Inline documentation and READMEs preserve context near code, while ADRs specifically capture the rationale behind trade-offs and technology selections.

Yes, you can use this approach to compare technology options before finalizing a decision. The standard ADR format enforces option comparisons and documentation governance, ensuring that trade-offs and future implications are evaluated and recorded during the engineering decision process.

Relying solely on inline comments for API documentation limits the preservation of decision rationale. While inline docs keep context near code, they cannot enforce a standard ADR format or capture the broader technology selections, system boundaries, and trade-offs that ADRs provide for engineering teams.