documentation-and-adrs

An architecture decision record (ADR) captures the problem, context, decision, and consequences of a design choice. You start by adding ADR-001 in the docs/decisions/ directory to explain why a specific architectural trade-off was made.

Agent-facing documentation requires specs and a CLAUDE.md file to provide coding assistants with architectural context and ADR history. This ensures automated agents understand the rationale behind API changes and major design choices before modifying code.

You need an ADR for API changes when the decision involves critical trade-offs that future engineers must understand. Recording the architectural rationale in docs/decisions/ ensures the context behind your API design choices remains traceable over time.

To keep projects audit-friendly, structure your README to guide navigation and maintain a changelog that records feature deployments. This documentation strategy ensures project history and architectural decisions remain accessible for future engineering teams.

Inline documentation guidelines require you to explain the intent behind code and APIs directly where the logic resides. This practice preserves architectural context and helps future engineers understand the trade-offs of major design choices without leaving the codebase.

Yes, you can use ADR templates and a structured docs/decisions/ directory for team alignment and onboarding. By reviewing recorded architectural decisions, new engineers quickly understand the rationale and context behind existing project trade-offs.