Architecture Decision Records (ADRs)

Overview

This directory contains Architecture Decision Records (ADRs) that document significant architectural decisions, their context, rationale, and consequences.

Total ADRs: 61 records (000-060)

Recent ADRs

ADR Categories

ADRs are organized by decision domain:

Creating New ADRs

See adr-000-meta-platform.md for the standard ADR template and decision-making framework.

How to read this catalog (citation framework)

Added 2026-04-27 after a code-side citation audit revealed that zero code citations does not equal “decorative ADR.” Future Architects (and reviewers of this catalog) should classify each ADR along two independent dimensions:

Status Code citations What it means
Load-bearing — interface ≥5 in code The ADR documents an active, named API or pattern that engineers grep for and cite in code (e.g., ADR-059 Workflow Dispatcher at 53 citations, ADR-053 Trust at 39, ADR-013 Spatial at 33). When the code interface changes, the ADR must change.
Load-bearing — decision Often 0–2 in code, but high session-log/discussion citations The ADR documents a decision so embedded in the architecture that the code is the ADR — there’s nothing to grep because the logic flow encodes the choice (canonical example: ADR-060 Floor-First Routing — most-discussed ADR in session logs, zero code citations). When the underlying decision is revisited, the ADR must change; otherwise it stays stable.
Internalized 0 in code, low session-log presence The ADR documents a foundational pattern that’s followed implicitly (e.g., Repository Pattern, Service Layer). Engineers don’t cite it because it’s the default; they only deviate with justification. Stable; archival.
Archival 0 in code, 0 active discussion The ADR documented a one-time decision that has fully landed and no longer needs reference (canonical examples: ADR-006 Async Sessions, ADR-025 Unified Session Management, ADR-028 Verification Pyramid). The work is done; the architecture absorbed the change. Stable; historical record only.
Genuinely decorative 0 in code, 0 active discussion, and the decision was never executed or has been silently superseded These are the ADRs worth retiring or annotating as superseded. Distinct from Archival because the work didn’t land.

Why this framework matters:

Counting code citations is a necessary but not sufficient signal of an ADR’s load-bearing status. The CIO M1 methodology audit (Apr 17, 2026) flagged ADR-060 as the most-cited ADR in session logs (26 files); a separate code audit (Apr 27) found ADR-060 has zero code citations. Both data points are correct; they describe different things.

When auditing the catalog for staleness or relevance:

This framework also applies to the Pattern Index and the PDR catalog — same code-vs-discussion-vs-internalized distinction.


Last Updated: April 27, 2026 (citation framework added) Maintained By: Documentation Team + Chief Architect (catalog meta-doc) Purpose: Directory navigation, content overview, and citation-status framework