CODITECT Standard: Architecture Decision Records (ADRs)
Standard ID: CODITECT-STANDARD-ADR Version: 1.0.0 Status: Active Created: 2025-12-22 Author: AZ1.AI INC Architecture Team Compliance: Mandatory for all ADRs
1. Purpose
This standard defines the requirements for creating, naming, maintaining, and organizing Architecture Decision Records (ADRs) within the CODITECT ecosystem.
2. Scope
This standard applies to:
- All ADRs in
internal/architecture/adrs/ - All submodule ADRs
- Any documentation describing architectural decisions
3. ADR Definition
An Architecture Decision Record (ADR) is a document that captures an important architectural decision along with its context and consequences. ADRs:
- Record the "why" behind decisions, not just the "what"
- Serve as historical reference for future maintainers
- Are immutable once accepted (changes require new ADRs)
- Enable traceable decision-making
4. When to Create an ADR
4.1 Create ADR For
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Framework Patterns | Async/sync, state management, message passing |
| Technology Choices | Frameworks, libraries, protocols, databases |
| API Design | REST vs GraphQL, versioning, authentication |
| Data Architecture | Schema design, storage strategies, migrations |
| Scalability | Caching, sharding, load balancing |
| Security | Authentication methods, encryption, access control |
| Integration | External APIs, inter-service communication |
| Multi-tenancy | Tenant isolation, data partitioning |
4.2 Do NOT Create ADR For
- Implementation details (code-level decisions)
- Temporary workarounds
- Bug fixes (unless revealing architectural issues)
- Configuration choices
- Cosmetic or formatting changes
5. Naming Convention
5.1 File Naming Format
ADR-{SERIES}-{title-in-kebab-case}.md
Examples:
ADR-001-async-task-executor-refactoring.mdADR-CXQ-007-codebase-indexing-expansion.mdADR-030-lms-phase-1.md
5.2 Numbering Series
| Series | Range | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core | 001-099 | Core platform architecture | ADR-001, ADR-002 |
| Master | 100-199 | Platform-wide systems | ADR-100 |
| CX | CX-* | Context extraction | ADR-CX-CONTEXT-EXTRACTION |
| CXQ | CXQ-* | Context query | ADR-CXQ-007 |
| LMS | LMS-* | Learning management system | ADR-LMS-PHASE-1 |
| TOKEN | TOKEN-* | Token accounting | ADR-TOKEN-ACCOUNTING |
| WORKFLOW | WORKFLOW-* | Workflow execution | ADR-WORKFLOW-EXECUTOR |
5.3 Title Formatting
| Element | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Case | kebab-case for filenames | async-task-executor |
| Length | Max 50 characters | Keep concise |
| Content | Describe decision, not problem | hybrid-deployment not deployment-issue |
6. ADR Structure
6.1 Required Sections
Every ADR MUST contain:
- Title - Clear, descriptive title
- Metadata - Status, date, author, related documents
- Context - Why this decision is needed
- Decision - What was decided
- Consequences - Positive and negative impacts
6.2 Optional Sections
- Decision Drivers - Requirements that influenced decision
- Considered Options - Alternatives with pros/cons
- Implementation Details - How to implement
- Validation Criteria - How to verify compliance
- Glossary - Definitions for acronyms and technical terms (see Section 6.4)
- Links - Related documents, references
6.3 Glossary Requirements
Principle: "Define acronyms on first use; avoid acronyms unless widely known." (Reference: CODITECT-STANDARD-README-MD.md, CODITECT-STANDARD-AMBIGUITY-HANDLING.md)
6.3.1 When Glossary is REQUIRED
A Glossary section is REQUIRED when the ADR contains:
- 3 or more acronyms (even if defined inline)
- Domain-specific technical terms not in common developer vocabulary
- CODITECT-specific terminology (e.g., MoE, RLS, PILOT plan)
- Ambiguous terms with multiple industry interpretations
6.3.2 Glossary Format
## Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|------|------------|
| **ADR** | Architecture Decision Record - document capturing architectural decisions |
| **RLS** | Row-Level Security - PostgreSQL feature for automatic tenant data isolation |
| **MoE** | Mixture of Experts - multi-model evaluation pattern |
| **ACID** | Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability - database transaction properties |
6.3.3 Inline Definition Rule
First occurrence of any acronym MUST include inline definition:
✅ CORRECT: "Row-Level Security (RLS) ensures tenant isolation..."
❌ WRONG: "RLS ensures tenant isolation..."
6.3.4 Well-Known Acronyms
The following are considered "widely known" and do NOT require inline definition (but should still appear in Glossary if present):
- API, REST, JSON, YAML, SQL, HTTP, HTTPS, HTML, CSS, URL, UUID
- CI/CD, Git, PR (Pull Request), CLI, SDK, IDE
- AWS, GCP, Azure (cloud providers)
6.3.5 Ambiguous Terms
For terms with multiple industry interpretations, use CODITECT-STANDARD-AMBIGUITY-HANDLING.md protocol:
| Term | CODITECT Definition | Industry Alternatives |
|------|---------------------|----------------------|
| **Tenant** | Organization in multi-tenant SaaS | Could also mean: user, workspace, project |
6.4 Template Reference
Use template: CODITECT-CORE-STANDARDS/TEMPLATES/ADR-TEMPLATE.md
7. Status Values
| Status | Meaning | Can Transition To |
|---|---|---|
| PROPOSED | Under review | ACCEPTED, REJECTED |
| ACCEPTED | Approved, implementing | DEPRECATED, SUPERSEDED |
| APPROVED | Synonym for ACCEPTED | DEPRECATED, SUPERSEDED |
| REJECTED | Not accepted | (terminal) |
| DEPRECATED | No longer recommended | SUPERSEDED |
| SUPERSEDED | Replaced by new ADR | (terminal) |
7.1 Status Transitions
PROPOSED ─┬─► ACCEPTED ─┬─► DEPRECATED ─► SUPERSEDED
│ │
└─► REJECTED └─► SUPERSEDED
7.2 Supersession Rules
When superseding an ADR:
- Add header to old ADR:
**Superseded by:** [ADR-XXX](link) - Change status to SUPERSEDED
- Reference old ADR in new ADR's context
8. Immutability
8.1 Core Principle
ADRs are immutable once accepted. The historical record must be preserved.
8.2 Allowed Changes to Accepted ADRs
| Allowed | Not Allowed |
|---|---|
| Fix typos | Change decision |
| Update links | Modify rationale |
| Add clarifications | Remove content |
| Update status | Alter consequences |
8.3 Changing a Decision
To change an accepted decision:
- Create new ADR with updated decision
- Mark old ADR as SUPERSEDED
- Reference relationship in both ADRs
9. Quality Requirements
9.1 Content Quality
| Requirement | Validation |
|---|---|
| Clear context | Explains why decision needed |
| Explicit decision | States what was decided |
| Complete options | Documents alternatives considered |
| Honest consequences | Lists positive AND negative impacts |
| Implementation guidance | Provides actionable steps |
9.2 Formatting Quality
| Requirement | Validation |
|---|---|
| YAML frontmatter | Present with required fields |
| Consistent headers | Markdown heading hierarchy |
| Valid links | All cross-references work |
| Code blocks | Properly fenced with language |
10. Cross-Referencing
10.1 ADR Cross-References
ADRs should reference:
- Related ADRs (dependencies, extensions)
- Implementation documents
- Affected components
- External standards or research
10.2 Index Maintenance
When adding new ADR:
- Add entry to
internal/architecture/adrs/README.md - Update category count in statistics
- Verify cross-references from related ADRs
11. Review Process
11.1 Before Proposing
- Decision is architectural (not implementation)
- Alternatives have been considered
- Impact is significant
- Context is well-understood
11.2 Before Accepting
- All alternatives documented
- Consequences clearly stated
- Implementation plan provided
- Stakeholders have reviewed
- Template compliance verified
11.3 After Accepting
- README index updated
- Cross-references added
- Old ADRs superseded if needed
- Team notified
12. Storage Location
| Repository | Location | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| coditect-core | internal/architecture/adrs/ | Core framework ADRs |
| Submodules | internal/architecture/adrs/ or docs/adrs/ | Submodule-specific ADRs |
13. Compliance
13.1 Mandatory Requirements
All ADRs MUST:
- Follow naming convention (Section 5)
- Include required sections (Section 6.1)
- Use valid status values (Section 7)
- Maintain immutability (Section 8)
- Be indexed in README (Section 10.2)
13.2 Validation
ADRs are validated by:
- Manual review during PR
- Automated linting (future)
- Periodic conformance audits
14. Related Documents
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| ADR-TEMPLATE.md | ADR template |
| internal/architecture/adrs/README.md | ADR index |
| CODITECT-STANDARD-DOCUMENTATION.md | General documentation standard |
Last Updated: 2025-12-22 Review Schedule: Quarterly Owner: Architecture Team, AZ1.AI INC