documentation-and-adrs

An architectural decision record (ADR) documents the rationale and alternatives considered for significant technical decisions. You need ADRs when making changes to database schemas, APIs, or architectural patterns to preserve historical context for future maintenance.

Document architectural decisions by capturing the rationale behind API changes, schema migrations, and feature implementations using standardized ADR templates. This ensures the codebase remains understandable for new team members and future feature development.

Yes, this skill standardizes the process of documenting ADRs by providing templates for different decision types. These templates ensure that historical context and design rationale are consistently preserved across the codebase.

The best way to record database migration rationale is to document the decision as an ADR, capturing the reasoning and alternatives considered. This helps new members quickly catch up and understand the design choices behind schema changes.

Documenting ADRs directly improves codebase maintenance and feature development by maintaining a comprehensive record of architectural decisions. This clear documentation ensures all team members understand the design rationale and historical context.