adr-generator

ADR Generator

Create well-structured Architectural Decision Records that document technical decisions with clear context, rationale, consequences, and alternatives.

Triggers

Trigger Phrase	Operation
create an ADR	Full ADR generation workflow
generate ADR	Full ADR generation workflow
write an architecture decision record	Full ADR generation workflow
new ADR for	Targeted ADR for a specific decision
document this architecture decision	Full ADR generation workflow

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Quick Start

# These all work:
create an ADR for database selection
new ADR for authentication strategy
document this architecture decision about event sourcing
generate ADR for switching from REST to gRPC

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When to Use

Situation	Use This Skill?
New architectural decision needs documenting	Yes
Changing an existing system or pattern	Yes (includes Prior Art Investigation)
Reviewing or validating an existing ADR	No, use adr-review skill
Minor implementation detail, not architectural	No

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Process

Phase G1: Gather

Collect required information from the user:

• Decision Title: Clear, concise name
• Context: Problem statement, technical constraints, business requirements
• Decision: Chosen solution with rationale
• Alternatives: Options considered (at least 2) and rejection reasons
• Stakeholders: People or teams involved

If any required information is missing, ask the user before proceeding.

Significance check: Before proceeding, quickly assess whether the decision warrants an ADR using the ASR Test. If the decision is trivially reversible, purely local, and has no stakeholder concern, suggest skipping the ADR.

Readiness check: Verify the decision passes the START Definition of Ready: Stakeholders known, Time (Most Responsible Moment) has come, Alternatives exist, Requirements understood, Template will be determined in G2.

If the decision changes an existing system, trigger Prior Art Investigation using the chestertons-fence skill or manually gather: what exists, why it was built that way, and why change now.

Phase G2: Research

Discover the ADR destination, naming convention, numbering, and template by exploring the codebase.

Step 1: Locate ADR directory

Explore the codebase to find where ADRs live. Do not assume a fixed location.

1. Search broadly: Use glob/grep to find files matching ADR patterns (ADR-*.md, adr-*.md, 0*-*.md in directories named decisions, adr, architecture)
2. Check common locations: .agents/architecture/, docs/adr/, docs/architecture/, docs/decisions/, architecture/decisions/
3. Check for ADR tooling config: Look for .adr-dir files (used by adr-tools) or ADR references in README, CONTRIBUTING, or project documentation
4. If user specifies a location: Use that, regardless of what exists elsewhere

Note: .agents/architecture/ and docs/architecture/ are monitored by adr-review for auto-triggered review. ADRs in other directories require manual adr-review invocation.

Step 2: Detect template from existing ADRs

If the directory contains existing ADRs:

• Read 2-3 existing ADRs to infer the template in use (section headings, frontmatter style, naming convention, case convention)
• Match against known templates in the ADR templates catalog
• Adopt the detected template, naming convention (e.g., ADR-NNN-slug.md vs 0NNN-slug.md), and section structure
• Note: adr-review auto-triggers only match uppercase ADR-*.md patterns. If existing ADRs use lowercase, warn the user that auto-review will not trigger
• Check for a template file (e.g., ADR-TEMPLATE.md, template.md) in the same directory or a parent

Step 3: Handle no existing ADRs

If no ADRs or template files exist anywhere in the codebase:

• Prompt the user to choose a template from the catalog
• Suggest the Project Canonical template as the default (if .agents/architecture/ADR-TEMPLATE.md exists) or MADR as a widely-adopted alternative
• Ask the user to confirm or specify the target directory

Step 4: Determine next number

• Scan files matching the detected naming pattern in the destination directory
• Determine the next sequential number (zero-padded to match existing convention)
• Verify no collision with existing files in that directory

Phase G3: Generate

Populate the detected template with gathered content:

• Use precise, unambiguous language
• Include both positive and negative consequences
• Document all alternatives with pros/cons table and clear rejection rationale
• Include Prior Art Investigation section when changing existing systems
• Structure for both machine parsing and human reference
• Match the style and conventions of existing ADRs at the destination

Phase G4: Validate

Self-check against the quality checklist before saving. All structural and content checks must pass.

Phase G5: Save

Write the file to the destination directory determined in Phase G2:

Rule	Example
Match existing naming convention	ADR-053-authentication-strategy.md or 0053-authentication-strategy.md
Zero-pad number to match existing pattern	ADR-001, 0001, etc.
Lowercase kebab-case slug (3-5 words)	database-selection, event-sourcing-pattern
Status always set to Proposed	Changed only after adr-review debate

After saving, recommend the user invoke the adr-review skill for multi-agent validation.

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Anti-Patterns

Avoid these when creating ADRs. Full catalog with 11+ creation and 7 review anti-patterns in AD Quality Frameworks.

Avoid	Why	Instead
Skipping alternatives section	Decisions without alternatives lack rigor	Document at least 2 alternatives with pros/cons
Setting status to Accepted	ADRs require review before acceptance	Always use Proposed, let adr-review change it
Duplicating an existing ADR	Causes governance confusion	Scan existing ADRs in G2, supersede if needed
Context that describes the solution	Context should explain the problem	Keep context focused on forces and constraints
Omitting negative consequences	Dishonest trade-off analysis ("Free Lunch Coupon")	Include at least 1 negative consequence
Skipping Prior Art when changing systems	Risk of removing structures without understanding	Use chestertons-fence skill
Sales Pitch language	Marketing language erodes trust	Use precise, quantifiable language
Dummy alternatives	Fake options to make preferred choice shine	Present genuine alternatives with honest pros/cons
Ignoring the template at the destination	Inconsistent ADR log	Detect template from existing ADRs in Phase G2

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Style

• No sycophancy, AI filler phrases, or hedging language
• Active voice, direct address
• Replace adjectives with data (quantify impact)
• Short sentences (15-20 words), Grade 9 reading level

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Verification

Before delivering, confirm all items in the quality checklist pass:

• All required sections present
• ADR number is unique
• Status is Proposed
• Context explains the problem, not the solution
• At least 2 alternatives with pros/cons
• At least 1 negative consequence documented
• File saved to destination directory determined in Phase G2

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Related Skills

Skill	Responsibility
adr-generator	Creates a new ADR from scratch (Phases G1-G5)
adr-review	Validates an existing ADR via 6-agent debate
chestertons-fence	Investigates historical context before changing existing systems

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References

• ADR Template — This project's canonical ADR document structure
• ADR Templates Catalog — Comparison of Nygard, MADR, Alexandrian, Tyree & Akerman, and other formats
• AD Quality Frameworks — ASR Test, START (DoR), ecADR (DoD), anti-patterns, review checklist (Zimmermann)
• ADR Best Practices — Writing guidance, lifecycle, naming conventions, teamwork advice
• Quality Checklist — Validation checklist for Phase G4