Have you ever opened an old codebase and thought,
“Why on earth did they build it this way?”
If so — you’ve felt the pain that Architecture Decision Records (ADRs) were made to solve.
Most engineers focus on what was built.
Senior engineers focus on why it was built that way.
That simple shift — from code to context — is the mindset of an architect.
🏗️ What Is an ADR, Really?
An Architecture Decision Record (ADR) is a short document that captures:
- The context of a technical decision
- The options considered
- The decision made
- The consequences of that decision
That’s it.
Usually no more than one page.
An ADR doesn’t need diagrams, fancy formatting, or a meeting to approve it.
It’s simply the paper trail of your architectural thinking.
🧩Why ADRs Matter So Much
Here’s why every senior engineer uses them:
1️⃣ Knowledge doesn’t get lost
When a teammate leaves, their thought process stays. No more mystery decisions.
2️⃣ You become promotion-ready
Architects don’t just deliver features — they make design tradeoffs explicit.
ADRs show your ability to reason technically.
3️⃣ Better collaboration
Disagreements become data-driven. Teams debate documented tradeoffs, not opinions.
4️⃣ Portfolio power
When you apply for senior or staff roles, your ADRs are real-world proof of leadership.
🧱 Example ADR
Here’s a lightweight ADR example to illustrate the concept:
# ADR 007: Use PostgreSQL Instead of MongoDB for Core Transactions
## Context
Our core feature requires ACID compliance and relational queries across multiple tables.
## Decision
Adopt PostgreSQL as the primary data store for transactional data.
## Alternatives Considered
- MongoDB: flexible schema, but lacks robust transactions.
- DynamoDB: great scalability, but overkill for our relational use case.
## Consequences
- Strong data integrity.
- Slightly slower write performance.
- Easier onboarding for new engineers.
Short, clear, and timeless.
Even years later, anyone can understand why this decision was made.
🚀 How ADRs Accelerate Your Career
Here’s the hidden benefit no one tells you:
Writing ADRs doesn’t just organize your projects — it rewires your brain to think like an architect.
After 2–3 months of documenting decisions, you’ll notice:
You ask “what are the tradeoffs?” before coding
You spot design issues earlier
You start communicating like a tech lead
It’s not about filling templates.
It’s about documenting your engineering judgment.
🧰 Get Your Free ADR Template Bundle
If you want to start using ADRs right away, we built a ready-to-use ADR Template Bundle — designed for individual engineers, small teams, and cloud projects.
🎁What’s inside:
Copy-ready Google Docs + PDF templates
Mini roadmap for your first ADR system
Example ADRs you can adapt instantly
👉 Download the free ADR Template Bundle →(https://bit.ly/adr-bundle )
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