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proposed / accepted / superseded / deferred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-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proposed / accepted / superseded / deferred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| Superseded By |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
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
Rationale
Consequences
Positive:
Negative / tradeoffs:
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
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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