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Architecture Decisions

This section contains Architecture Decision Records (ADRs) that document important architectural and design decisions made during Famlab's development.

What are ADRs?

Architecture Decision Records capture important architectural decisions along with their context and consequences. They help us:

  • Document rationale - Understanding why decisions were made
  • Track evolution - See how our thinking has changed over time
  • Enable informed decisions - Learn from past choices when making new ones
  • Onboard contributors - Provide context for anyone joining the project

Our ADR Process

Famlab uses the MADR (Markdown Architectural Decision Records) format. We maintain ADRs as markdown files in this repository, version-controlled alongside the code they describe.

ADR Statuses

  • Proposed - Decision under consideration
  • Accepted - Decision approved and implemented
  • Deprecated - Decision no longer applicable
  • Superseded - Replaced by a newer decision

Current ADRs

Templates

Short Form Template

Short Form Template - Copy the code below

<!-- From https://github.com/adr/madr/blob/4.0.0/template/adr-template-minimal.md -->

# {short title, representative of solved problem and found solution}

## Context and Problem Statement

{Describe the context and problem statement, e.g., in free form using two to three sentences or in the form of an illustrative story. You may want to articulate the problem in form of a question and add links to collaboration boards or issue management systems.}

## Considered Options

* {title of option 1}
* {title of option 2}
* {title of option 3}
* … <!-- numbers of options can vary -->

## Decision Outcome

Chosen option: "{title of option 1}", because {justification. e.g., only option, which meets k.o. criterion decision driver | which resolves force {force} | … | comes out best (see below)}.

<!-- This is an optional element. Feel free to remove. -->
### Consequences

* Good, because {positive consequence, e.g., improvement of one or more desired qualities, …}
* Bad, because {negative consequence, e.g., compromising one or more desired qualities, …}
* … <!-- numbers of consequences can vary -->

Long Form Template

Long Form Template - Copy the code below

---
# These are optional metadata elements. Feel free to remove any of them.
status: "{proposed | rejected | accepted | deprecated | … | superseded by ADR-0123"
date: {YYYY-MM-DD when the decision was last updated}
decision-makers: {list everyone involved in the decision}
consulted: {list everyone whose opinions are sought (typically subject-matter experts); and with whom there is a two-way communication}
informed: {list everyone who is kept up-to-date on progress; and with whom there is a one-way communication}
---

<!-- From https://github.com/adr/madr/blob/4.0.0/template/adr-template.md -->

# {short title, representative of solved problem and found solution}

## Context and Problem Statement

{Describe the context and problem statement, e.g., in free form using two to three sentences or in the form of an illustrative story. You may want to articulate the problem in form of a question and add links to collaboration boards or issue management systems.}

<!-- This is an optional element. Feel free to remove. -->
## Decision Drivers

* {decision driver 1, e.g., a force, facing concern, …}
* {decision driver 2, e.g., a force, facing concern, …}
* … <!-- numbers of drivers can vary -->

## Considered Options

* {title of option 1}
* {title of option 2}
* {title of option 3}
* … <!-- numbers of options can vary -->

## Decision Outcome

Chosen option: "{title of option 1}", because {justification. e.g., only option, which meets k.o. criterion decision driver | which resolves force {force} | … | comes out best (see below)}.

<!-- This is an optional element. Feel free to remove. -->
### Consequences

* Good, because {positive consequence, e.g., improvement of one or more desired qualities, …}
* Bad, because {negative consequence, e.g., compromising one or more desired qualities, …}
* … <!-- numbers of consequences can vary -->

<!-- This is an optional element. Feel free to remove. -->
### Confirmation

{Describe how the implementation of/compliance with the ADR can/will be confirmed. Are the design that was decided for and its implementation in line with the decision made? E.g., a design/code review or a test with a library such as ArchUnit can help validate this. Not that although we classify this element as optional, it is included in many ADRs.}

<!-- This is an optional element. Feel free to remove. -->
## Pros and Cons of the Options

### {title of option 1}

<!-- This is an optional element. Feel free to remove. -->
{example | description | pointer to more information | …}

* Good, because {argument a}
* Good, because {argument b}
<!-- use "neutral" if the given argument weights neither for good nor bad -->
* Neutral, because {argument c}
* Bad, because {argument d}
* … <!-- numbers of pros and cons can vary -->

### {title of other option}

{example | description | pointer to more information | …}

* Good, because {argument a}
* Good, because {argument b}
* Neutral, because {argument c}
* Bad, because {argument d}
* …

<!-- This is an optional element. Feel free to remove. -->
## More Information

{You might want to provide additional evidence/confidence for the decision outcome here and/or document the team agreement on the decision and/or define when/how this decision the decision should be realized and if/when it should be re-visited. Links to other decisions and resources might appear here as well.}

New ADRs should follow these templates and be numbered sequentially.