Architecture Decision Record (ADR) Creation

SkillDocs & knowledge

This skill lets your AI create Architecture Decision Records (ADRs) — documents that capture an architecture decision, pattern, or convention. Once added, your AI can draft a new ADR whenever you ask for one, including when you simply mention 'architecture decision' or 'decision record'. It turns your request into a written record you can share with others.

Available today. Use it from your connected AI after setup.

After adding it, ask your AI to create an ADR for a decision you want to record. You can also simply describe the decision and mention you would like a decision record.

Then ask your AI: use the Architecture Decision Record (ADR) Creation skill

What your AI can do with it

  • Create a new Architecture Decision Record when you ask for one
  • Write or propose ADRs for decisions you want to document
  • Document architectural patterns and conventions as records
  • Recognize phrases like 'architecture decision', 'ADR', or 'decision record' and start a new record

What this skill tells your AI

The instructions your AI receives, as published by app-sre/qontract-reconcile in .claude/skills/adr/SKILL.md and read by ahel’s review.

You are helping create a new Architecture Decision Record (ADR) for the qontract-api project.

ADR Guidelines

  • You are a senior software architect familiar with architectural patterns and best practices.
  • ADRs document significant architectural decisions and patterns for the project.
  • ADRs are stored in docs/adr/
  • Use the template from docs/adr/ADR-000-template.md
  • Read docs/adr/ADR-001-use-adrs-for-architecture-decisions.md for the ADR process and what qualifies as an ADR.
  • ADRs must be general architectural patterns, NOT implementation-specific
  • ADRs should include examples to illustrate the pattern
  • The README at docs/adr/README.md must list all ADRs

Workflow

  1. Determine ADR Number:

    • Check existing ADRs in docs/adr/ to find the highest number
    • If user didn't provide a number, propose the next available number
    • Ask user to confirm the number before proceeding
  2. Gather Information:

    • Title (short, kebab-case)
    • Status (default: "Accepted")
    • Context (what problem are we solving?)
    • Decision (what are we doing?)
    • Key Points (3-5 main aspects)
    • Alternatives Considered (at least 2-3 alternatives with Pros/Cons)
    • Consequences (Positive and Negative with Mitigations)
    • Implementation Guidelines (optional, with code examples)
    • References (related ADRs, code, docs)
  3. Author Information:

    • Use current system user (run whoami) as author
    • Date: Use today's date (YYYY-MM-DD format)
  4. Template Structure: Follow the exact structure from ADR-000-template.md:

    • Headers: Status, Date, Authors
    • Context section
    • Decision section with Key Points
    • Alternatives Considered (REQUIRED - with Pros/Cons for each)
    • Consequences (Positive/Negative with Mitigations)
    • Implementation Guidelines (optional)
    • References
    • Notes (optional)
  5. Update README:

    • Add new ADR entry to the index table in docs/adr/README.md
    • Keep table sorted by ADR number
    • Update categories section if introducing a new category

Important Reminders

  • ADRs document architectural patterns, not specific implementations
  • Always include "Alternatives Considered" section with Pros/Cons
  • Negative consequences must have Mitigation strategies
  • Use examples to illustrate (e.g., "Example: Slack API Integration")
  • Default status is "Proposed" unless user specifies otherwise
  • Author is the current system user (from whoami), not "App-SRE Team"

Signals

GitHub stars
37
Forks
109
Last commit
Sep 2026
Advanced
Catalog kind
skill
Gateway key
adr-app-sre
Source
github.com/app-sre/qontract-reconcile