architecture-decision-records
Write and maintain Architecture Decision Records (ADRs) following best practices for technical decision documentation. Use when documenting significant technical decisions, reviewing past architectural choices, or establishing decision processes.
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/wshobson/agents --skill architecture-decision-records- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads architecture-decision-records automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
Security audits
Independent scans of the skill's instructions and bundled files.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
Architecture Decision Records
Comprehensive patterns for creating, maintaining, and managing Architecture Decision Records (ADRs) that capture the context and rationale behind significant technical decisions.
When to Use This Skill
- Making significant architectural decisions
- Documenting technology choices
- Recording design trade-offs
- Onboarding new team members
- Reviewing historical decisions
- Establishing decision-making processes
Core Concepts
1. What is an ADR?
An Architecture Decision Record captures:
- Context: Why we needed to make a decision
- Decision: What we decided
- Consequences: What happens as a result
2. When to Write an ADR
| Write ADR | Skip ADR |
|---|---|
| New framework adoption | Minor version upgrades |
| Database technology choice | Bug fixes |
| API design patterns | Implementation details |
| Security architecture | Routine maintenance |
| Integration patterns | Configuration changes |
3. ADR Lifecycle
Proposed → Accepted → Deprecated → Superseded
↓
Rejected
Before drafting a standard, lightweight, or Y-statement ADR, read decision templates.
Before drafting a deprecation ADR or RFC, read deprecation and RFC templates.
ADR Management
Directory Structure
docs/
├── adr/
│ ├── README.md # Index and guidelines
│ ├── template.md # Team's ADR template
│ ├── 0001-use-postgresql.md
│ ├── 0002-caching-strategy.md
│ ├── 0003-mongodb-user-profiles.md # [DEPRECATED]
│ └── 0020-deprecate-mongodb.md # Supersedes 0003
ADR Index (README.md)
# Architecture Decision Records
This directory contains Architecture Decision Records (ADRs) for [Project Name].
## Index
| ADR | Title | Status | Date |
| ------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- | ---------- | ---------- |
| [0001](0001-use-postgresql.md) | Use PostgreSQL as Primary Database | Accepted | 2024-01-10 |
| [0002](0002-caching-strategy.md) | Caching Strategy with Redis | Accepted | 2024-01-12 |
| [0003](0003-mongodb-user-profiles.md) | MongoDB for User Profiles | Deprecated | 2023-06-15 |
| [0020](0020-deprecate-mongodb.md) | Deprecate MongoDB | Accepted | 2024-01-15 |
## Creating a New ADR
1. Copy `template.md` to `NNNN-title-with-dashes.md`
2. Fill in the template
3. Submit PR for review
4. Update this index after approval
## ADR Status
- **Proposed**: Under discussion
- **Accepted**: Decision made, implementing
- **Deprecated**: No longer relevant
- **Superseded**: Replaced by another ADR
- **Rejected**: Considered but not adopted
Automation (adr-tools)
# Install adr-tools
brew install adr-tools
# Initialize ADR directory
adr init docs/adr
# Create new ADR
adr new "Use PostgreSQL as Primary Database"
# Supersede an ADR
adr new -s 3 "Deprecate MongoDB in Favor of PostgreSQL"
# Generate table of contents (to a separate file, so the hand-written
# index and guidelines in README.md are not overwritten)
adr generate toc > docs/adr/toc.md
# Link related ADRs
adr link 2 "Complements" 1 "Is complemented by"
Review Process
## ADR Review Checklist
### Before Submission
- [ ] Context clearly explains the problem
- [ ] All viable options considered
- [ ] Pros/cons balanced and honest
- [ ] Consequences (positive and negative) documented
- [ ] Related ADRs linked
### During Review
- [ ] At least 2 senior engineers reviewed
- [ ] Affected teams consulted
- [ ] Security implications considered
- [ ] Cost implications documented
- [ ] Reversibility assessed
### After Acceptance
- [ ] ADR index updated
- [ ] Team notified
- [ ] Implementation tickets created
- [ ] Related documentation updated
Best Practices
Do's
- Write ADRs early - Before implementation starts
- Keep them short - 1-2 pages maximum
- Be honest about trade-offs - Include real cons
- Link related decisions - Build decision graph
- Update status - Deprecate when superseded
Don'ts
- Don't change accepted ADRs - Write new ones to supersede
- Don't skip context - Future readers need background
- Don't hide failures - Rejected decisions are valuable
- Don't be vague - Specific decisions, specific consequences
- Don't forget implementation - ADR without action is waste
FAQ
What does the architecture-decision-records skill do?
Write and maintain Architecture Decision Records (ADRs) following best practices for technical decision documentation. Use when documenting significant technical decisions, reviewing past architectural choices, or establishing decision processes.
How do I install architecture-decision-records?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/wshobson/agents --skill architecture-decision-records in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/architecture-decision-records/ (personal) or .claude/skills/architecture-decision-records/ (project).
Which AI agents can use architecture-decision-records?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is architecture-decision-records safe to install?
Security partners have reviewed it: Gen Agent Trust Hub passed; Socket passed; Snyk passed; Runlayer passed; ZeroLeaks passed. As with any skill, read the SKILL.md and bundled scripts before installing.
Who maintains architecture-decision-records?
It is published by wshobson in wshobson/agents. It has 22,545 recorded installs.
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