technical-decision-record

An Architecture Decision Record (ADR) is a structured document that captures context, constraints, options, decisions, and consequences. You need ADRs to preserve architectural rationale and enable future traceability across software engineering projects.

To document architectural decisions, create ADRs using a standardized template to record context and consequences. Maintain a traceable history by following a structured process to create, review, and supersede older ADRs as technology selections change.

An ADR template for technology selections should include standardized sections for context, constraints, options, decision, and consequences. This lightweight structure justifies service choices and ensures architectural rationale is accessible for team alignment.

You supersede older architectural decisions by creating a new ADR that references and invalidates the previous record. This standardized process maintains a clear, traceable history of architecture changes and technology selections across projects.

You should use ADRs instead of ad-hoc documentation whenever making architecture changes, technology selections, or service choices. ADRs provide structured traceability that ad-hoc notes lack, improving onboarding and team alignment by making rationale accessible.