ADR-0001: Use Architectural Decision Records
Status
Section titled “Status”Accepted
Context
Section titled “Context”As rust_template grows, we need a way to document important architectural decisions and their rationale. Without documentation, decisions can be lost over time, leading to:
- Repeated discussions on already-settled topics
- Loss of context about why certain approaches were chosen
- Difficulty onboarding new contributors
- Inconsistent architectural choices
We need a lightweight, version-controlled way to capture and track architectural decisions.
Decision
Section titled “Decision”We will use Architectural Decision Records (ADRs) to document significant architectural decisions in this project.
ADRs will:
- Be stored in
docs/adr/directory - Use the MADR (Markdown Architectural Decision Records) format
- Be numbered sequentially (0001, 0002, etc.)
- Include: title, status, context, decision, and consequences
- Be reviewed through pull requests like code changes
- Be validated automatically in CI using the adrscope action
Consequences
Section titled “Consequences”Positive
Section titled “Positive”- Transparency: All architectural decisions are documented and visible
- Context preservation: Future maintainers understand why decisions were made
- Collaboration: ADRs provide a structured way to discuss and review decisions
- Automation: CI validates ADR format and generates browsable documentation
- Git integration: ADRs are versioned alongside code
Negative
Section titled “Negative”- Overhead: Requires discipline to document decisions as they’re made
- Learning curve: Contributors need to understand ADR format
- Maintenance: ADRs may need updates as decisions evolve
Neutral
Section titled “Neutral”- ADRs complement, but don’t replace, code comments and documentation
- Not all decisions need an ADR—only architecturally significant ones
- ADR status can change over time (proposed → accepted → superseded/deprecated)