ADR-[NUMBER]: [Decision Title]
Date: [YYYY-MM-DD] Status: Proposed | Accepted | Superseded by ADR-XXX
Context
[What situation requires a decision? What's the problem or question?]
Options Considered
Option 1: [Name]
Approach: [Brief description] Gains: [What you get] Loses: [What you give up] Fits when: [Context where this is the right choice]
Option 2: [Name]
Approach: Gains: Loses: Fits when:
Option 3: [Name] (if applicable)
Approach: Gains: Loses: Fits when:
Decision
Chosen option: [Option name]
Rationale: [Why this option fits THIS context better than alternatives]
Consequences
Enables
- [What this decision makes possible]
- [Capabilities gained]
Constrains
- [What this decision rules out or makes harder]
- [Future options limited]
Assumes
- [What must be true for this to work]
- [If assumption proves false, reconsider]
Reversal Cost
How hard to change: Easy | Moderate | Hard
What reversal requires: [What would need to change to pick a different option later]
Validation
- At least 2 options were genuinely considered
- Trade-offs are explicit (every option loses something)
- Decision rationale references project context, not generic best practices
- Assumptions are identified
- Reversal cost is assessed