Architecture Decision Records

This directory contains the Architecture Decision Records (ADRs) for the Union Square project.

What are ADRs?¶

Architecture Decision Records (ADRs) are a lightweight way to document architectural decisions made throughout the project. They help future developers understand not just what decisions were made, but why they were made and what alternatives were considered.

Why use ADRs?¶

Knowledge Preservation: Captures the context and reasoning behind decisions before it's forgotten
Onboarding: Helps new team members understand the system's evolution
Decision History: Provides a historical record of architectural choices
Transparency: Makes the decision-making process visible and reviewable
Prevents Revisiting: Reduces time spent re-discussing already-made decisions

ADR Structure¶

Each ADR follows a consistent template that includes:

Context and Problem Statement: What situation or challenge prompted this decision?
Decision Drivers: Key factors that influenced the decision
Considered Options: Alternative approaches that were evaluated
Decision Outcome: The chosen solution and rationale
Consequences: Both positive and negative impacts of the decision
Pros and Cons: Detailed analysis of each considered option

ADR Lifecycle¶

ADRs can have the following statuses:

proposed: The decision is being discussed but not yet agreed upon
accepted: The decision has been agreed upon and should be followed
deprecated: The decision is no longer relevant but kept for historical context
superseded: The decision has been replaced by a newer ADR

Working with ADRs¶

To view ADRs in a web interface, run:

npm run adr:preview

To create a new ADR, run:

npm run adr:new

When to Create an ADR¶

Create an ADR when making decisions about:

Technology choices (databases, frameworks, libraries)
Architectural patterns and approaches
API design and protocols
Security strategies
Performance optimization approaches
Testing strategies
Deployment and infrastructure
Any decision with long-term implications