create-adr

name	create-adr
description	Create an Architectural Decision Record (ADR) to document a significant design or technology choice
compatibility	>=1.4

Create Architectural Decision Record

Skill metadata: version "1.0"; license MIT; tags [documentation, architecture, decision, adr]; compatibility ">=1.4"; recommended tools [editFiles, codebase].

Create a structured ADR document that captures the context, decision, consequences, and alternatives for a significant architectural choice.

When to use

• The user asks to "create an ADR", "document this decision", or "record why we chose X"
• A significant technology, framework, pattern, or architectural choice was just made
• A design decision needs to be preserved for future maintainers and AI agents
• A rejected option needs to be documented to prevent re-litigating it later

When NOT to use

• Trivial implementation details (naming, minor refactors) — those belong in commit messages
• Decisions that are already obvious from the code itself
• A full project design doc is needed (that is a specification, not an ADR)

Steps

1. Gather inputs — Collect from the user (or infer from conversation context):

   • Decision title (verb phrase: "Use X for Y")
   • Context: the problem, constraints, and forces driving the decision
   • Decision: what was chosen and why
   • Alternatives: what else was considered and why each was rejected
   • Stakeholders: teams or roles affected

   If any required input is missing and cannot be inferred, ask before proceeding.

2. Determine sequence number — List existing files in docs/adr/ (create directory if absent). Use the next 4-digit number (0001, 0002, …).

3. Write the ADR — Save to docs/adr/adr-NNNN-<title-slug>.md using the template below. Replace all bracketed placeholders.

4. Confirm — Show the created file path to the user.

ADR Template

---
title: "ADR-NNNN: [Decision Title]"
status: "Proposed"
date: "YYYY-MM-DD"
authors: "[Stakeholder Names/Roles]"
tags: ["architecture", "decision"]
supersedes: ""
superseded_by: ""
---

# ADR-NNNN: [Decision Title]

## Status

**Proposed** | Accepted | Rejected | Superseded | Deprecated

## Context

[Problem statement, technical constraints, business requirements, and environmental factors requiring this decision.]

## Decision

[Chosen solution with clear rationale for selection.]

## Consequences

### Positive

- **POS-001**: [Beneficial outcomes and advantages]
- **POS-002**: [Performance, maintainability, scalability improvements]

### Negative

- **NEG-001**: [Trade-offs, limitations, drawbacks]
- **NEG-002**: [Technical debt or complexity introduced]

## Alternatives Considered

### [Alternative 1 Name]

- **ALT-001**: **Description**: [Brief technical description]
- **ALT-002**: **Rejection Reason**: [Why this option was not selected]

### [Alternative 2 Name]

- **ALT-003**: **Description**: [Brief technical description]
- **ALT-004**: **Rejection Reason**: [Why this option was not selected]

## Implementation Notes

- **IMP-001**: [Key implementation considerations]
- **IMP-002**: [Migration or rollout strategy if applicable]
- **IMP-003**: [Monitoring and success criteria]

## References

- **REF-001**: [Related ADRs]
- **REF-002**: [External documentation]
- **REF-003**: [Standards or frameworks referenced]