Architecture Decision Records

Comprehensive patterns for creating, maintaining, and managing Architecture Decision Records (ADRs) that capture the context and rationale behind significant technical decisions.

Use this skill when

• Making significant architectural decisions
• Documenting technology choices
• Recording design trade-offs
• Onboarding new team members
• Reviewing historical decisions
• Establishing decision-making processes

Do not use this skill when

• You only need to document small implementation details
• The change is a minor patch or routine maintenance
• There is no architectural decision to capture

Instructions

1. Capture the decision context, constraints, and drivers.
2. Document considered options with tradeoffs.
3. Record the decision, rationale, and consequences.
4. Link related ADRs and update status over time.

Core Concepts

🧠 Knowledge Modules (Fractal Skills)

1. 1. What is an ADR?

2. 2. When to Write an ADR

3. 3. ADR Lifecycle

4. Template 1: Standard ADR (MADR Format)

5. Option 1: PostgreSQL

6. Option 2: MySQL

7. Option 3: MongoDB

8. Positive

9. Negative

10. Risks

11. Template 2: Lightweight ADR

12. Template 3: Y-Statement Format

13. Template 4: ADR for Deprecation

14. Positive

15. Negative

16. Template 5: Request for Comments (RFC) Style

17. Event Store

18. Projections

19. Technology

20. Directory Structure

21. ADR Index (README.md)

22. Automation (adr-tools)

23. Before Submission

24. During Review

25. After Acceptance

26. Do's

27. Don'ts