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Architecture Decision Records

Template Library

Architecture Decision Records Template

Record major architecture decisions, alternatives, rationale, consequences, verification implications, and supersession history.

ES-104 ADRs Decision Evidence

Template purpose

Use this template to record major architecture decisions.

An ADR should explain the context, options, decision, rationale, consequences, tradeoffs, related requirements, related risks, and evidence needed to validate the decision later.

Project

<Project name>

Document control

Field Value
Artifact owner <owner>
Primary reviewers <reviewers>
Status <draft / in review / accepted / revised>
Last updated <YYYY-MM-DD>
Related Engineering Stage ES-104 — Architecture and Technical Approach
Project workspace target docs/project-workspace/architecture/architecture_decision_records.md

ADR index

ADR ID Decision Title Status Related Requirements Related Risks Supersedes
ADR-001 <decision title> <proposed / accepted / superseded / deferred> <requirements> <risks> <ADR-ID or none>

ADR format

ADR-001 — <Decision Title>

Field Value
Status <proposed / accepted / superseded / deferred>
Date <date>
Decision Owner <owner>
Reviewers <reviewers>
Related Requirements <requirements>
Related Constraints <constraints>
Related Risks <risks>
Related Quality Attributes <quality attributes>
Supersedes <ADR-ID or none>
Superseded By <ADR-ID or none>

Context

<context>

Decision drivers

Driver Source Importance
<driver> <requirement, constraint, risk, quality attribute, stakeholder need> <high / medium / low>

Options considered

Option Description Advantages Disadvantages / Risks
<option> <description> <advantages> <disadvantages or risks>

Decision

<decision>

Rationale

<rationale>

Consequences

Positive:

  • <consequence>

Negative / tradeoffs:

  • <consequence>

Trust, evidence, and governance implications

Area Implication
Human oversight <implication>
Evidence preservation <implication>
Security / privacy <implication>
Operations / monitoring <implication>
AI governance <implication or not applicable>

Verification implications

Verification Need Later Evidence
<test, review, inspection, monitoring, operational validation> <evidence>

Review notes

<notes>

Deferred or rejected decisions

Decision Area Reason Deferred / Rejected Revisit Trigger
<decision area> <reason> <trigger>

Review checklist

  • [ ] Major decisions are recorded.
  • [ ] Alternatives are documented.
  • [ ] Rationale is clear.
  • [ ] Consequences and tradeoffs are explicit.
  • [ ] Requirements, constraints, risks, and quality attributes are linked.
  • [ ] Trust, evidence, and governance implications are considered.
  • [ ] Verification implications are identified.
  • [ ] Supersession history is supported.

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