documenting-decisions

An ADR preserves technical context and rationale for significant design choices. You need to document an ADR when introducing a new third-party dependency or deviating from established coding patterns to explain trade-offs and rejected alternatives.

Standardize ADRs by enforcing a consistent markdown template containing status, context, decision, and consequences. Maintain consistency across the project by adhering to sequential file naming conventions for each new generated record.

ADRs require adherence to a specific markdown format. This structured template includes sections for status, context, decision, and consequences to ensure significant design choices and trade-offs are consistently documented.

You should skip creating an ADR for minor decisions to reduce bureaucratic overhead. Clear guidelines dictate when documentation is necessary versus when it can be skipped, preventing unnecessary administrative burden on the development team.

Track technical debt and dependency integrations by generating an ADR that formalizes the design choice. This record explains the trade-offs and alternative solutions evaluated, establishing institutional memory for future developers.