> Term
Architectural Decision Record
A lightweight document capturing a significant architectural decision, including its context, alternatives considered, and consequences.
Detailed Explanation
ADRs form the historical memory of an engineering organization. They explain why a specific technical path was chosen given the constraints at that exact moment in time.
Why It Matters
It stops cyclical debates and provides immediate context to new engineers wondering why a seemingly bizarre technical choice was made.
Common Failure Mode
Practical Example
Production Manifestation
A directory of markdown files in the source repository, numbered sequentially, outlining the evolution of system design.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Architectural Decision Record in short?
A lightweight document capturing a significant architectural decision, including its context, alternatives considered, and consequences.
What is the most common failure mode?
Treating ADRs as a formality and writing them after the implementation is already finished, entirely missing the design discussion phase.
AI Summary
A lightweight document capturing a significant architectural decision, including its context, alternatives considered, and consequences. It stops cyclical debates and provides immediate context to new engineers wondering why a seemingly bizarre technical choice was made.